Weight limit for Donnington Bridge

A weight limit is to be imposed on Donnington Bridge in Oxford after ongoing monitoring revealed that the condition of materials in the structure needs to be addressed.

Engineers  have carefully studied the results of monitoring work and have made a recommendation to impose a weight limit as a precautionary measure while the condition of hidden and currently inaccessible elements of the structure are further reviewed.  

A structural weight limit initially restricting the maximum weight of vehicles to 7.5t. is to be implemented This will take effect from Tuesday, 20 August and will affect bus services. Bus companies have been informed of the situation and will be diverting bus services.

A programme of inspections, tests, and remote monitoring will be arranged to give a more detailed understanding of the structure’s condition. These further assessments will determine future decisions on the weight limit and action to remedy the structure of the bridge.

For bus companies, Oxford Bus Company service 46 and Thames Travel ST1 are affected and will be diverted. Service 46 will operate via Iffley Road to the city centre, and service ST1 will operate via the full length of Iffley Road to Littlemore Roundabout, then via the ring road to the A34.

Further details, including changes to city centre stopping arrangements, are available on the bus company’s website.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We will progress this issue as quickly as we can as we are conscious that it’ll create disruption for larger vehicles. We’ll be guided by the experts in terms of what happens next and we will keep the public fully informed.”