Longbird Bridge may be closed to marine traffic over the Cup Match holiday despite a recent refit.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott told The Royal Gazette that the east end bridge had been undergoing repairs after problems were discovered about ten days ago.

He said that the 50-year-old bridge had recently been refitted.

"The engineers assured me that we were going to have it in the best possible shape only to have it inexplicably give us a problem about ten days ago," said Mr. Scott.

The bridge's designers have been working on the problems, he said.

"They have confirmed to us it is the heat - that the morning sun causes the bridge to deflect up to three or four inches and as the sun tracked over in the afternoon, the bridge then twisted to the opposite direction. They have now so engineered the process that it allows for the deflection and we're hoping that all will go well even as we speak."

But tests are now being conducted to make sure the fix works perfectly.

"If we are satisfied that it is working to our satisfaction we will open it for Cup Match," said the Minister.

But he said priority will be given to land traffic.

"The last thing that Minister Alex Scott wants to have happen in the middle of the Cup Match holiday is for that bridge to get wedged open!" Mr. Scott joked.

An announcement will be made today to give east end commercial boaters time to adjust their plans accordingly.