Options for Barston Bridge

Solihull Council is seeking views on long-term options for Barston Bridge.
Barston Bridge was constructed in 1859 and carries Barston Lane over the River Blythe in Barston, providing a route for approximately 1,050 vehicles per day.
Recent inspections identified significant weakening of the bridge, prompting a reduced maximum weight limit of three tonnes and a need for long-term solutions.
The bridge is safe to use under existing weight restrictions and is monitored regularly by the Council but closed when required for safety reasons such as flooding.
The Council is consulting on the below options:
Option 1 would replace the bridge with a new structure which has a maximum weight limit of 40 tonnes. This would require external funding of around £2 million.
Option 2 would close the bridge to vehicles and require drivers to use alternative existing roads.
We want your feedback on the options.
You can share any comments until 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 4 February by clicking ‘Take survey’ on this page.
Before sharing your views, you can read more about the options in the FAQs on this page, alongside key dates.