EVESHAM’S Abbey Bridge and viaduct could be repaired sooner than expected after Worcestershire County Council revealed that all five tenders had identified a shorter time frame for its completion.

The council submitted its final £9 million funding bid to the Department for Transport this month and a decision is expected in December.

Contractors have been invited to tender for the work – which is dependent on the success of the bid – and the council said that all had responded positively to its desire to see innovative approaches to minimise potential disruption.

So far, all tenders show a shorter completion time than the 12 months originally anticipated. In addition, each one has taken note of the requirement to supply a gateway structure and the need to maintain pedestrian access into and out of Evesham throughout the duration of the work.

Councillor John Smith, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I am pleased that all five tenders have identified a shorter closure period than was first expected.

“If we are successful in obtaining the funding needed to carry out the necessary work on this vital structure, we’ll be doing all we can to keep any disruption to a minimum while construction takes place.

“As part of the evaluation process, local groups such as Wychavon District Council, the town council, the civic society, Vale of Evesham Commerce and Tourism Association and local county councillors have met to discuss the bridge aesthetics and have advised the county council accordingly.”

The tendering process will take until December.

Plans for managing traffic during any closure period will be examined in detail once funding has been secured.

It is anticipated that Evesham could see the opening of the new Abbey Bridge and viaduct by the end of 2014, if the bid is successful.