REPAIRS to a major Carlisle bridge are due to get underway.

Work on Eden Bridge is due to begin at 6.30pm on Monday and is expected to take up to two weeks to complete.

During that time the bridge will be partly closed with traffic control at night. Between 6am and 8pm there will be no disruption and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Cumbria County Council said it is confident work will get underway on time and will be completed as planned though progress is dependent on the river flow.

In order for the repairs to be carried out, contractors Jacobs Stobbarts and sub-contracts James Fisher need machinery on the bridge to transfer material by crane.

Following Storm Desmond, which saw water levels almost reach the top of its arches, Eden Bridge was closed for nearly two weeks while structural surveys were carried out. At the time there were fears the that the ferocity of the flood might have seriously damaged the structure which provides a vital transport link to the city.

But the flow of water caused only minor erosion and scour to the stone masonry and concrete foundations of the bridge, which need to be repaired and will include some diving.

Large rocks, known as rock armour, will be installed to protect the bridge in future.

A spokesman for the council said: "Generally the works are simple in nature but important to protect the key transport link from any further damage during winter months.

"The challenge with this work is the complexities involved in accessing the site and the water flow. There may be up to ten people working on site at any one time."

The repairs are part of Cumbria’s Infrastructure Recovery Programme, following the Storm Desmond.

The county council is investing over £25m this year and this part of the project is expected to cost in the region of £100,000.

More than 100 other bridge structures are being repaired and due to be completed by the end of October along with a significant number of highways and slope structures across the county.

Engineers are faced with numerous challenges including gaining access to rivers at points when the water flow is not too high.

Stephen Hall, assistant director for Highways, Transport and Fleet, said: “This work is one of many important projects across the county to repair bridges and other parts of our road network that were damaged last December. Whilst Eden Bridge was not significantly damaged in the floods, this work is intended to ensure the structure is as resilient as possible in advance of the coming winter.”