KAY Street bridge in Summerseat could be reopened more than two years after the structure suffered flood damage.

Part of the two-arched stone bridge was destroyed during the Boxing Day floods in 2015, and has been closed to traffic ever since.

Bury Council previously approved using compulsory purchase powers to buy land on and around the bridge so that the work to reopen it could go ahead.

Now widening works could be carried out on the upstream side of the bridge to create a single carriageway and pedestrian footway.

Applicant Bury Council has proposed widening the bridge by 1.9 metres to create a footway, and building a natural stone parapet on the east side to match the existing west side wall.

The main body of the Brooksbottoms bridge is understood to date back to the late 18th Century, with 1876 alterations made to its central pier and some of the river walls.

The application report reads: "Once repaired, restored and extended, the bridge will again be used for vehicle access.

"It will continue to be a single carriageway with traffic needing to take care due to some difficulties with visibility.

"The extension to the bridge on the up-river side will, in addition to providing structural stability, provide a new footway 1,855mm wide across the bridge.

"This will remove the potential danger that existed in the past where vehicles and pedestrians could be on a carriageway of restricted width at the same time.

"The reopening of the bridge will ease the pressure on the only other road bridge across the River Irwell in a very restricted river valley where road access and circulation is difficult."

The proposals also include new stone parapets on both banks of the extended bridge.

The bridge and neighbouring Waterside Inn were damaged when Storm Eva hit Bury, causing unprecedented flooding.

This left the bridge with no physical barrier on one side which has meant that the bridge has since been closed to vehicles for safety reasons.

The proposed repair and widening of the bridge follows a consultation with Summerseat residents, including a drop-in session on April 11.