CHEPSTOW’S Old Wye Bridge is set to be finished this month, three months after its original estimated completion date.

Work on the grade one listed bridge, which started in May, was due to be finished in August but was set back after a series of delays.

Now, after calls for the bridge to remain closed altogether from residents as previously reported in the Beacon, a date of 22nd December has been set for the bridge to reopen to vehicles.

Ahead of the bridge’s bi-centenary next year, there have been calls for the bridge to be considered for World Heritage Status.

Chepstow resident John Burrows conducted a presentation in front of Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) in September, where he encouraged councillors to consider applying for World Heritage Status, describing the bridge as “unique” and of “world significance”.

Mr Burrows said: “In next year’s ceremony I’m hoping county councillors will parade across the bridge in the same way they did 200 years ago.”

Councillors were urged to ensure works to the Old Wye Bridge are completed well before the ceremony. He said: “At the moment the bridge has scaffolding on it but it must end by the end of the year because we want to draw the attention of the world to the bridge.”