The expected opening date for the new £46 million Dyfi Bridge has been pushed back to summer 2023.

In January 2020, plans to build the £46m bridge across the river Dyfi in Machynlleth were given the go-ahead by the Welsh Government.

Construction work had been due to start in summer 2020, with a completion date of summer 2022, but this was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In February, the Welsh Government announced work was set to begin in March with an expected end date of spring 2023.

However, the planned opening date has been delayed again, and has now been set for July 2023, after construction work began in April of this year.

The new development will see a viaduct built across the floodplain and a river bridge across the Afon Dyfi approximately 480 metres upstream of the existing bridge.

The current 19th century stone bridge, is narrow and offers poor visibility and no footways, and is frequently closed due to flooding, an occurrence which is likely to increase with the impact of climate change.

The bridge’s closures can impact on the community’s ability to access key services such as healthcare, education and public transport in Machynlleth and beyond.

The government hopes the £46 million scheme will improve road safety, strengthen links between communities, provide active travel opportunities and build resilience against flooding, as well as improve transport connectivity to help stimulate further economic development.

They hope the removal of large scale traffic and the provision of a walking and cycle path will also improve active travel opportunities, increasing the attraction of Machynlleth and the surrounding areas as a tourist destination.

The scheme will also include traffic calming and improved drainage on the A493 immediately north of the bridge to protect the existing cottages, with a flood bund constructed to protect the Dyfi Eco Park from river flooding.

On 16 July, the Welsh Government stated contractors “are currently preparing the area for main building works”.

This includes preparation to build flood bunds to protect the eco centre, preparatory works to build the northern junction, and completing service diversions.

This summer, they plan to build flood bunds, install emergency pumping facilities, start earthworks for the new bridge deck, build piles and piers to support a new bridge deck, build new bridge crossing the Afon Ddyfi, build new road layouts at both ends of the scheme, and change parts of the existing road so that it joins the local authority’s road network.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “After the pandemic delayed the start of work on the new Dyfi Bridge, construction started in April and it is scheduled to open in summer 2023.

“The existing Pont-ar-Ddyfi bridge was not designed to carry the current volume of traffic and the road is often closed due to flooding. The new bridge will offer a safer and more resilient route through the area.”