THE repairs to Selby Toll Bridge, which will cause traffic disruption for at least two months, will cost £350,000, The Press can reveal.

The figure was confirmed by North Yorkshire County Council, which also said a bus service was being considered to get people around the works, due to start on February 14. Coun Steve Shaw-Wright said: “Obviously the toll bridge costs a lot of money because of its rudimentary construction and needs to be open.

“But there will be major roadworks taking place on the A19 with the building of the new civic centre and work on the hospital site which will close other roads at the same time.

“It’s going to be difficult to get in and out of town for quite some time.”

The essential repairs to the bridge will involve workers removing corroded steel beams which support the bridge, cleaning and repainting them, and replacing a number of them.

The council also confirmed work would take place to prevent water draining through the road surface in future, thereby preventing similar work being needed again.

A spokesman for Selby Chamber of Commerce said: “I’m very surprised to hear what’s going on and obviously people are trying to get out of the recession.

“Things are slowly starting to pick up for the people and local businesses but this will cripple them and cause immense problems.”