WORK has started on a 10-month scheme to rebuild a town centre bridge.

Orlando Street, which runs across the Orland Bridge, will be closed for the next 43 weeks as Network Rail contractors begin demolishing and then rebuilding the bridge.

Businesses in the surrounding area are reminding customers that they are still open for business and are hopeful trade will not be affected by the lengthy closure.

The rebuilding work is needed to prepare the bridge for the higher overhead lines that will arrive with the electrification of the rail network.

But Network Rail has said that the bridge was in need of rebuilding anyway.

The closure will mean that vehicles will not be able to use Orlando Street as a cut through from Manchester Road to Thynne Street for the duration of the 10-month project.

There are a number of businesses based near to the bridge and bosses are hoping it will be business as usual during the road closure.

A spokesman for Apex Management Ltd in Orlando Street said the firm, which also runs an MOT test centre from its premises, will need to put up special signs to direct customers along a new route to the premises.

He said: “The bridge is currently closed up to where our office starts, so far we haven’t seen any effect on the business because people can still access our office but we will have to wait and see how things go for us in the next couple of weeks — I hope we will be okay.

“We have an MOT test centre and cars driving to us will need to use the back road to get to us so that will mean putting up new signs to direct them.

“At first Network Rail didn’t tell us too much about what was going to happen but recently they have been better at informing us.”

Orlando Bridge has previously had weight restrictions placed on it meaning lorries can no longer travel over it.

Ralph Kellet of the nearby Hatfield Garage believes the narrow space offered on the bridge has already led to drivers using alternative routes.

He said: “I think after they put those bollards up there were a lot of people who chose to drive round the other route to avoid it, because they were quite high and there were a few accidents.

“Because of that I am hopeful that the bridge closure won’t have too much effect on my customers, but we will have to see.”