A ROAD near Hereford which has been shut for five months could finally reopen in days.

Network Rail said it had to close the bridge over the railway at Stoke Edith, and therefore the lane that links the Ledbury and Worcester roads, because of damage.

It has meant drivers who use the lane have had to use alternative routes between the A4103 and A438 to get around the C1148 Stoke Edith road closure.

But, according to Herefordshire Council's online roadworks map, the road closure is set to end on Sunday (April 9).

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While this could be extended, Network Rail previously said it hoped the road would reopen by mid-April.

Network Rail's community relations executive Delroy Hall said that the bridge had been closed since November 2022 after an inspection "revealed significant water damage affecting the bridge’s structural integrity".

He said it was a major safety concern that led to the joint decision with Herefordshire Council to close the road until repairs to the bridge were complete.

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That was despite the impact it knew additional journey times would have on road users.

Concrete blocks have been put across the road and Network Rail said it hoped to have the work finished by the middle of April when the road can reopen.

"We understand local people would expect us to complete this critical work within the timeframe that was originally agreed," he said, but blamed unforeseen issues with water management for the work taking several months.

"I know that this falls well below the expectations of local residents and this must be increasingly frustrating for road users in the area."