ROAD closures are set to take place on a vital transport corridor through the Aire Valley to allow essential work to be carried out on a huge structure.

Maintenance work will be carried out on the Cottingley Viaduct section of the A650 Sir Fred Hoyle Way, also known as the Bingley bypass.

The structure, which was built in 2002, spans the River Aire at Cottingley, carrying the road across the valley.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A view of Cottingley Viaduct, which carries the Bingley Bypass over the River AireA view of Cottingley Viaduct, which carries the Bingley Bypass over the River Aire (Image: Mike Simmonds: T&A)

The proposed work includes the replacement of the bridge’s expansion joints.

Bradford Council said the project will prolong the working life of the structure in addition to ensuring it remains safe.

Road closures will need to be put in place so that the work can be carried out safely.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A view of Cottingley viaduct, which carries the Bingley Bypass over the River AireA view of Cottingley viaduct, which carries the Bingley Bypass over the River Aire (Image: T&A)

The Council said the work would be carried out on weekends to keep disruption to a minimum on the bypass, which also hit the headlines recently when average speed cameras were installed.

From 8pm on Friday, May 31 to 6am on Monday, June 3, the northbound carriageway will be closed from Bradford Road roundabout (Cottingley) to Ferncliffe Road (Bingley).

Because the work will require the temporary removal of the safety barrier in the central reservation, the righthand lane of the southbound carriageway will also be closed.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A flashback to 2002 when work was taking place on the Bingley BypassA flashback to 2002 when work was taking place on the Bingley Bypass (Image: T&A)

From 8pm on Friday, June 7 to 6am on Monday, June 10, the southbound carriageway will be closed from Ferncliffe Road (Bingley) to Bradford Road roundabout (Cottingley). The righthand lane of the northbound carriageway will also be closed.

A signed diversion route using the B6265 Bradford Road will be in place for both weekend closures.

While the road is closed to allow this work to take place, the Council will also be carrying out other maintenance work on the road.

The closures are likely to create more congestion in Bingley town centre, in areas such as Main Street.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: In October 2002, T&A photographer Paul Bentley captured this image of work to put the bridge in place over the River Aire at CottingleyIn October 2002, T&A photographer Paul Bentley captured this image of work to put the bridge in place over the River Aire at Cottingley (Image: T&A)

In October 2002, the T&A reported how the final beam of Bingley relief road's biggest bridge-frame was being dramatically lifted into place.

The last piece - a 62-tonne girder - of the £3-million steel structure was hoisted by a 100,000-tonne telescopic Liebherr crane to bridge the gap over the River Aire.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The final section of the bridge over the River Aire at Cottingley being put in place in 2002The final section of the bridge over the River Aire at Cottingley being put in place in 2002 (Image: T&A)

At 264-metres long, the bridge was seen as a landmark achievement in the construction of the £47.9 million road.

Information about changes to bus services will be on the West Yorkshire Metro website www.wymetro.com