Temporary traffic lights could be coming to a key route between Petersfield and Winchester as further surveys are planned on a piece of railway heritage.

Contractors who carried out six weeks of repairs to the former Meon Valley railway bridge over the A272 last summer found more defects than expected.

Core samples taken during the work have suggested the bricks used in the engineering marvel were of poor quality and are not as durable as previously thought.

National Highways (NH) relayed the information to Cllr Russell Oppenheimer in a follow-up report to the 2025 closure of the A272 near Privett. They do not believe the defects represent a risk to the public while no further closures are planned on the section east of the A32 crossroads.

The previous works included brickwork replacement, repointing and new fencing but there were continual complaints about the lack of warning from the A3, traffic using the Meons instead of the official diversion, and large vehicles turning in a field off the A272 near Stocks Lane.

National Highways looked into extending the road closure after discovering the defects and requested extra time for further works, but their request was declined by Hampshire County Council.

So more surveys are planned, but the impact should be minimal for now with NH planning two overnight “laser-point cloud surveys” of the structure.

No date has been set to the Post & Herald’s knowledge but single-way traffic lights will likely be in operation.

Cllr Oppenheimer said: “There will likely be some minor delays to traffic but I would agree with NH that overnight traffic lights are the best option.

“The laser scan will be repeated over future years and this will allow NH to keep an eye on the repairs carried out and areas of the structure they believe will require future work.”