A major £71 million project to replace an ageing rail bridge on a key road into Southampton could be funded by the government after the northern leg of HS2 was scrapped.

A city council report said the A3024 Northam Rail Bridge scheme could be in line to benefit from the Network North programme announced by the former Conservative government.

The development is listed in the portfolio of major road network projects, which officers say are likely to be entirely funded by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Previously the government would have covered 85 per cent of the delivery costs, with the local authority left to source the rest.

A report to Southampton City Council’s cabinet says the new funding method has not been confirmed by the DfT but it is “officers current understanding”.

READ MORE: Update on plans to replace busy railway bridge with HS2 money

It adds: “However, the new government’s review of transport capital spend has made this unclear – the council has had no clear direction from DfT on this and funding for the full delivery of the project is not yet secured.”

The condition of the bridge has been described as “extremely poor”.

This led to the introduction of a 7.5-tonne weight limit, except for buses.

The report said: “If the bridge is left in its current condition without significant investment and allowed to deteriorate further the weight limit may need to be lowered further and ultimately the bridge closed to traffic.

“This would severe[ly affect] the A3024 and place significant traffic pressures on other roads into the city centre including Itchen Bridge and Cobden Bridge and disrupt bus services from the east.

“It would also impact on the development potential of the Itchen Riverside area.”

READ MORE: Why Northam railway bridge should not be replaced - letter

The council has been working with partners, including National Highways and Network Rail, on the project for several years.

The current vision for the scheme includes:

  • Replacing and widening the existing carriageway structure with two new two-lane bridges, with potential for bus priority lanes
  • A new pedestrian-cyle bridge that realigns the St Mary’s Stadium footbridge
  • Changes to the junctions at Brinton’s Road and Britannia Road would be delivered, with new traffic signals, bus priority and crossings
  • Improved pedestrian and cycle routes around the bridge
  • Public realm, landscaping and biodiversity works in Old Northam Road and other areas

The report to the meeting on September 17 is asking councillors to green light the development of an outline business case for the project.

In 2019, this was estimated to cost £2.91 million, but it has increased to £4.052 million due to inflation, risk increase, third-party rates and other fees.

Network Rail is set to be tasked with developing the outline business case, which could be completed by October next year and submitted to government before the start of 2026.

Under this timeline, and subject to full business case and funding approval from DfT, construction could start in summer 2027, with completion two years later.

The government has already confirmed £1.707 million towards the outline business case. The council will need to ask for a further £966,937 from the DfT for 2025/26.

The council would contribute an additional £1,377,692, sourced from an existing grant, developer contributions and £60,000 of general fund revenue.