Councillors will today be asked to approve a £3 million programme of bridge repairs in Birmingham.

The city council is responsible for 860 highway structures including bridges and associated retaining walls, tunnels, culverts, subways, gantries and footbridges.

Its cabinet will today consider the Bridge Assessment, Strengthening and Maintenance Programme for the coming year.

Neil Dancer, chief highway engineer, said: "The council has a comprehensive programme of bridge inspection and assessment.

"This helps to ensure public safety, enabling appropriate timely repair work to be carried out."

The capital cost of the proposed programme is £3.031 million in 2005/6 with ongoing commitments of £1.84 million into 2006/7.

The programme will cover major structures, such as continuing work on the M6 Tame Valley Viaduct, to smaller bridge structures across the city.