Where a trunk road carried by a bridge vested in the MinisterF1 or a strategic highways company by virtue of section 266 above ceases to be a trunk road, the MinisterF2or the company may contribute towards the expenses to be incurred in the maintenance of the bridge by the council who become the highway authority for the road.

In this section “bridge” includes the highway carried by the bridge and so much of the approaches thereto as supports or protects the surface of the trunk road.