Over 40 bridges in Powys have been classed as substandard and are in need of millions of pounds worth of repairs says a recent study.

The RAC foundation released its annual report on the state of the UK’s bridges and found that in Wales Powys was the county with the third most bridges in need of work with 43 being classed as substandard.

Bridges categorised as substandard are either too weak to carry a 40-tonne vehicles or there is a weight restriction for environmental reasons such as a narrow bridge or narrow approach roads.

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Powys County Council estimated it would cost £10 million to bring the road bridges back to good condition but have said there are not any immediate causes for concern.

Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: “As the largest county in Wales, Powys has over 5,000km of roads and 1,399 bridges, significantly more than other Welsh councils.

“Bridges that fail an assessment for carrying 44 tonne vehicles are managed in a number of ways to ensure the safety of the user. Weight limits are used to reduce the effects of loading and help preserve structures for the future. Bridges categorised as sub-standard can include those that were built to earlier design standards or those that have deteriorated with age.

“The decision for implementing a weight limit is not taken lightly.  The rate of deterioration of a bridge is assessed alongside the failure mechanisms and the consequence of failure.  These factors are balanced against the cost and viability of strengthening works as well as the traffic flows over the structure."

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Powys Council said it would ideally restore 20 bridges to full capacity, but only foresees four returning to good condition in the next five years.

“Bridges across Powys are inspected regularly to identify problems. Where issues are identified or there is a risk of damage from, for example flooding, then the bridges are monitored more frequently,” added Councillor Charlton.

“The council will continue to invest in bridge works, but these need to be ranked against other much needed highway works.”

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the figures reveal the challenge local authorities are wrestling with to protect critical road infrastructure.

"The numbers illustrate how important it is for significant sums of money to be spent tackling at least the higher priority work," Gooding added.

"Whether it is potholes or bridges there is only so long that councils can continue to patch things up before bigger cracks literally start to appear in the road network."

Which bridges in Powys need work, and which road they are on:             

Garth House Old- C 0029

Rhydyberry - C 0036

Maelog - C 0059

Haffes - C 0224

Beulah Old - C 0023

Clayphon - C 0203

Trephilip - C 0166

Commin - C 0051

Llansantffraed - U 0530

Cathedine Common - C 0108

Llangrwyney - C 0126

Llwyncyrenwin Canal - U 0574

Glan Rhyd - U 0401

Cwm Treddfin - U 0264

Cwm Pwll-y-rhyd - U 0433 Unsurfaced

Llannerch Coedlan - U 0086

Cwm Nant Hir - U 0426 Unsurfaced

Nant Hir - U 0426

Whitton - B 4357

Caletwr - C 1206

Esgair Rhydd - C 1204

Llannerch-y-cawr - U 1553

Disserth - C 1205

Ciliau - C 1333

Crossway - C 1336

Rhyd-llyn - U 1108

Stowe - C 1067

Gwenfron - C 1221

Cyffredin Lane - U 1276

Long - B 4568

Ty Gwyrdd -C 2110

Tafolwern Fawr - C 2175

Hendre - U 2002

Red Canal - U 2218

Saw Mill - U 2080

Felindre - U 2421

Dol Frwynog - U 2325

Nags Head Canal - U 2925

Bryn Derwen Canal - B 4368

Brynderwen - B 4368

Graig Wen - U 2557

Ty-mawr - U 2728

Pont Tan-y-glydwen - U 5107 Unsurfaced