Motorists face diversions this weekend as the second railway bridge replacement in two months begins.

The A4076 Milford Haven road is now closed to all traffic until 6am on Monday, February 18.

The closure will be in place on a short stretch of road as it leaves the Merlins Bridge roundabout.

Milford Mercury: The bridge comes off at Merlins Bridge. PIC: Martin CavaneyThe bridge comes off at Merlins Bridge. PIC: Martin Cavaney

This is to allow the Milford Road railway bridge to be replaced as part of a £4.25million upgrade project Network Rail is carrying out.

Large vehicles travelling to Milford Haven should follow a 34-mile diversionary route via the A40 to Canaston, then following the A4075 to Pembroke before crossing the Cleddau Bridge back to Milford Haven.

Milford Mercury: Work to replace the railway bridge at Merlins Bridge. PIC: Western TelegraphWork to replace the railway bridge at Merlins Bridge. PIC: Western Telegraph

A shuttle bus service will be operating 24 hours-a-day while the road is closed to ferry pedestrians between either side of the road closure.

Other roads in the area will be open, but the Old Hakin Road will be controlled with temporary traffic lights.

Anyone travelling by rail over the weekend should check nationalrail.co.uk or changes to the timetable.

Milford Mercury: Work begins on the bridge today. PIC: Western TelegraphWork begins on the bridge today. PIC: Western Telegraph

The new Milford road railway bridge will be 15ft high, a foot higher than the current 14ft high bridge.

The bridge has been the site of several accidents in the past few years, as lorries have clipped against the bottom of it.

The most recent of these being last Tuesday, February 12, when a lorry and its excavator cargo became stuck under the bridge causing two hour hold ups.

For more information about the replacement work at Merlins Bridge, visitnetworkrail.co.uk/ merlins-bridge