Work on a “temporary” fix at the Swing Bridge in St George’s is set to begin today.

According to a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works, Crisson Construction Ltd has been awarded a contract to carry out interim repairs on the bridge, which was reduced to a single lane last December after a survey found it to be “seriously structurally compromised”.

“These repairs are considered as temporary only,” the spokeswoman said, adding: “The Swing Bridge will be opened for two lane traffic after the completion of these repairs.”

She said measurements will be taken on all of the bridge’s 10ft crossbeams to determine which need strengthening or replacement, with a boat used to provide workers with easy access to repair areas and allow the contractor to transport equipment and material.

Work is hoped to be completed by Christmas, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The Swing Bridge — which links St David’s to St George’s — has been closed to ships for two years.

Motorists can cross it one lane at a time, and a weight limit is in place due to the structure’s fragile state.

Fixing the problem has been estimated at $20 million.