This page has been set up to inform residents and businesses of any updates on the Old Wye Bridge, Chepstow.
Please find a timeline of updates below.
Click here to go straight to the FAQ section
Update: 01/04/2026
On Wednesday, 31 March 2026, representatives of Monmouthshire County Council, Gloucestershire County Council, and the Forest of Dean District Council attended a meeting at which WSP engineers presented the latest findings from the March 2026 inspection.
The new cracks identified are in the vertical structure members of Pier 2 and 4. The cracking is thought to have been caused by thermal changes during the cold weather seen across the last few months.
You’ll be able to find the presentation slide deck below.
Statement: 31/03/2026
The Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow is closed for safety reasons and must not be used.
Monmouthshire County Council respects the right to peaceful protest and understands public concern about the closure.
Specialist engineers have confirmed that the bridge is structurally unsafe, following the discovery of new cracks in the cast iron structure. For everyone’s safety, the closure must be followed, and barriers must not be moved.
We are working with engineers to identify a safe solution.
UPDATE: 27/03/2026
Monmouthshire County Council has taken the decision to close the Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow to all users following recommendations from specialist engineers.
The bridge, which connects Bridge Street with Castleford Hill, has been closed to traffic for several months while increased inspections have been undertaken.
During an inspection this week, several new cracks have appeared in the cast iron structure. Advice from the specialist engineers being that this poses a significant risk to pedestrians.
The recommendation, on the grounds of safety, is that we close the bridge to all users with immediate effect.
Monmouthshire County Council will mobilise a team to implement this closure during the evening of the 27th March and will continue to work with the engineers to find solutions.
UPDATE: 10/2025
During a routine monitoring inspection of the Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow on Wednesday, October 1 2025, the council received a recommendation from the consulting bridge engineers to immediately close the bridge to traffic due to signs of structural damage.
Upon inspection, a crack was discovered in the structural beam on Pillar 2. Below, you can view images of the affected area along with a close-up of the identified crack.
We are currently discussing the next steps with the engineers, but the bridge will be closed for vehicular traffic until further notice.
The Old Wye Bridge, constructed from cast iron, was opened in July 1816. Monmouthshire County Council has continuously monitored the bridge with the assistance of expert engineers since 2018.
We will continue to provide updates to our residents through this page and on our social media platforms.
For further information, please read these Frequently Asked Questions below
Inspections have been carried out on the bridge since the 1970s. The bridge is classified as a Sub-Standard Highways Structure and is managed in line with CS470 and CS454. The current monitoring regime is every six months.
Cracking was first discovered in 2018. At that time, engineers conducted calculations and determined that, while the bridge was sub-standard, it could remain open with a 3-tonne vehicle limit and with additional inspections. However, it was also agreed that the bridge would need to be closed immediately if a new crack was found as this would impact on the loading capacity.
In October 2025, a routine inspection revealed structural damage to the bridge. The bridge was immediately closed to all vehicular traffic but remained open for pedestrian use.
In March 2026, new cracks were discovered in the cast iron structure of the bridge. These cracks pose a significant risk to pedestrians. Monmouthshire County Council has therefore taken the decision to close the bridge to all users on safety grounds.
Specialist engineers have advised Monmouthshire County Council that the new cracks identified in the cast iron structure of the bridge pose a significant safety risk.
As a result, the bridge is now closed to all users.
The inspection in October 2025 identified a new crack, raising concerns about the structural integrity of this part of the bridge. Previous inspections highlighted that the structural beams were affected by thermal fatigue and vehicular loading. The recent crack is likely linked to the cast iron’s expansion and contraction over changes in the temperature.
Cracks were found in similar areas in 2018. Our engineers decided at the time that the bridge could remain open, but with additional checks. However, it was predicted that temperature cycles would eventually cause more cracks.
Repair options are being investigated. The structure is a Grade 1 Listed Structure, and all repairs must be carried out to retain its integrity under the Listing. Welding cast iron on a structure like this is not practical, the crack is right through the beam, and in its current position, stresses will be displaced to another section.
We hope so, but safely repairing the bridge will be complicated. We are currently working with specialist engineers to identify the best approach to repairing the bridge. To ensure the best proposals are brought forward, the engineers are currently conducting assessments of the bridge structure.
We will continue to liaise with all partners, including CADW, to ensure that the best options are explored.
We are not able to confirm timescales at this time. As this is a Grade 1 Listed structure, any works will also need to be approved by CADW. Repairs to a structure of this kind are detailed and may take time.
We do not have any evidence that the weight limit restrictions have created additional traffic on local roads.
We are working with specialist engineers to understand the medium- and long-term options for the bridge. We will provide further updates as soon as possible.