Merton councillors will next week be asked to approve plans to the demolish and then rebuild Bishopsford Road bridge following the partial collapse in June last year.

Half-a-dozen options to reopen the bridge are being put to the council’s decision-making cabinet on February 24 with the recommendation to pull the structure down and build a completely new one in its place. This option is the most expensive one and would cost the council £2.69 million excluding VAT.

If approved, work will begin on site in March to remove the broken parts of the bridge and pre-build work including ecological assessments will take place.

Main construction would then start by May and aim to be completed by Spring 2021.

Cabinet member for regeneration, housing and transport, Councillor Martin Whelton, said: “Reopening the bridge to all vehicles is a high priority for the council and it has been working hard, with its partners, to do this and mitigate the impact of its closure.

“I completely understand the frustration of the past eight months while structural assessments have been carried out, but it has been important to undertake that work to ensure a safe repair or rebuild can take place.

“Having done those assessments, we are determined to move forward as quickly as possible and get the bridge reopened.”

The Cabinet will take the decision at its meeting on February 24.