Monmouthshire County Council has confirmed the Grade-II listed bridge will be shut to vehicular traffic for 24 hours a day this autumn while major resurfacing work is undertaken.
The closure is due to start on 16 October for a period of five weeks. Pedestrian access will be maintained and cyclists who dismount can also cross. But drivers are facing an official diversion of up to 30 miles via Ross-on-Wye.
David Davies MP has been supporting residents from the neighbouring Riverside Park in pushing for essential repairs. He described the work as “vitally important” and “necessary” to retain and improve the bridge’s structural integrity and road surface, which is badly damaged and littered with deep potholes.
But he questioned the need for a full closure, echoing concerns about the “unprecedented amount of disruption” it will cause.
Mr Davies has written to the Labour Cabinet member with responsibility for Highways, Cllr Catrin Maby, to urgently request a change of approach.
“Historically, I am told the Wye Bridge has never been subject to a full closure for resurfacing. Instead, work has been carried out overnight or during restricted hours to allow access for residents and businesses,” said Mr Davies.
“The local community on the east side of the River Wye will effectively be cut off from Monmouth for several weeks, while business owners - particularly those on Hadnock Road - are worried about a significant loss of trade without customer footfall and delivery access.
“The council has said it is working with blue light services to maintain emergency access. I therefore fail to see why essential business and residential traffic cannot be allowed to travel across the bridge for a short period of the day, such as an hour.
“Given the high level of disruption this forthcoming programme of works will cause, I strongly urge the council to consider changing its approach from a blanket closure of the Wye Bridge to allowing some access for the local community.”