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Historic University Drive bridge, a popular passage through Western University’s campus, will re-open to traffic within weeks after several months of repairs.

The bridge was closed to all but pedestrians in October, closing off the path to London Transit buses and scores of other drivers, after inspectors found signs of deterioration in parts of the structure.

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Wednesday, school officials announced the reopening is set for March 8, about a week later than initially expected.

“Early February’s severe weather — including freezing rain, snow and extreme cold — slowed the pace of repairs and delayed the reopening by a week,” Elizabeth Krische, who leads facilities management for the university, said in a statement.

“Particularly during the freezing rain, work had to slow down or even halt for a few days to ensure worker safety.”

School officials say bearings on both ends of the 95-year-old bridge have been replaced, but nearly 600 six-centimetre-long rivets still need to be removed to allow workers to replace the “centre-span bearings.”