diff --git a/vpn/base/tasks/main.yml b/vpn/base/tasks/main.yml
index 56ef25c..96e025b 100644
--- a/vpn/base/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/vpn/base/tasks/main.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,47 @@
     sysctl_file: "/etc/sysctl.d/local.conf"
     reload: true
 
+- name: "keep ipv6 addresses on link down"
+  ansible.posix.sysctl:
+    name: "net.ipv6.conf.all.keep_addr_on_down"
+    value: "1"
+    sysctl_file: "/etc/sysctl.d/local.conf"
+    reload: true
+
+- name: "create network directory hierarchy"
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: "directory"
+    mode: 0755
+  loop:
+    - "network"
+    - "network/utils"
+    - "network/interfaces"
+
+- name: "ifupdown script"
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: "./ifupdown.sh"
+    dest: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/utils/ifupdown.sh"
+    mode: 0755
+
+- name: "symlink ifupdown script to /etc/network"
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    src: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/utils/ifupdown.sh"
+    dest: "/etc/network/{{ item }}/the-nine-worlds"
+    state: "link"
+  loop:
+    - "if-pre-up.d"
+    - "if-up.d"
+    - "if-down.d"
+    - "if-post-down.d"
+
+- name: "ensure bridge-utils is not installed"
+  ansible.builtin.apt:
+    name: "bridge-utils"
+    state: "absent"
+    purge: true
+
+# TODO: remove once all interfaces have been moved.
 - name: "script for creating virtual interfaces"
   ansible.builtin.copy:
     src: "./ip-link-add.sh"
diff --git a/vpn/base/templates/ifupdown.sh b/vpn/base/templates/ifupdown.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..74b0a05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/base/templates/ifupdown.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Do not run if the deprecated bridge scripts are present.
+if [ -f "$(dirname ${0})/bridge" ]
+then
+    echo "$(basename ${0}):"\
+        "ifupdown scripts from bridge-utils interfere with the-nine-worlds scripts" 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+IFDIR={{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/${IFACE}
+IFUPDIR=${IFDIR}/ifup.d
+IFDOWNDIR=${IFDIR}/ifdown.d
+
+if [ "${MODE}" == "start" ] && [ -d ${IFUPDIR} ]
+then
+    /bin/run-parts --exit-on-error ${IFUPDIR}
+elif [ "${MODE}" == "stop" ] && [ -d ${IFDOWNDIR} ]
+then
+    /bin/run-parts --reverse ${IFDOWNDIR}
+fi
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/files/br0 b/vpn/bridge/files/br0
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a956d2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/files/br0
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+auto br0
+iface br0 inet6 manual
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-inet.nft b/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-inet.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index e7b5064..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-inet.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-flush table inet br0_inet
-delete table inet br0_inet
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv4.nft b/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv4.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index 34d95a9..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv4.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-flush table ip br0_ipv4
-delete table ip br0_ipv4
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv6.nft b/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv6.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index 5c5251e..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/files/pre-down-br0-ipv6.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-flush table ip6 br0_ipv6
-delete table ip6 br0_ipv6
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/tasks/main.yml b/vpn/bridge/tasks/main.yml
index 89103f3..f4df354 100644
--- a/vpn/bridge/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/vpn/bridge/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,27 +1,39 @@
 ---
-- name: "post-up nftables scripts"
-  ansible.builtin.template:
-    src: "./{{ item }}"
-    dest: "/usr/local/sbin/{{ item }}"
+- name: "create interface directory hierarchy"
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/{{ item }}"
+    state: "directory"
     mode: 0755
   loop:
-    - "post-up-br0-inet.nft"
-    - "post-up-br0-ipv4.nft"
-    - "post-up-br0-ipv6.nft"
-  register: vpn_bridge_post_up_nft
+    - "br0"
+    - "br0/ifup.d"
+    - "br0/ifdown.d"
+    - "br0/nftables"
+
+- name: "nftables up script"
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: "./nftables/up.nft"
+    dest: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/br0/nftables/up.nft"
+    mode: 0644
+  register: vpn_bridge_nftables_up
+
+- name: "interface up scripts"
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: "./ifupdown.d/{{ item }}"
+    dest: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/br0/ifup.d/{{ item }}"
+    mode: 0755
+  loop:
+    - "00-interface"
+    - "10-nftables"
+    - "20-routes"
+  register: vpn_bridge_interface_up
 
 - name: "configure interface"
-  ansible.builtin.template:
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
     src: "./br0"
     dest: "/etc/network/interfaces.d/br0"
     mode: 0644
-    validate: >
-      bash -c
-      'if ! diff %s /etc/network/interfaces.d/br0 && ip link show dev br0 ;
-       then
-           ifdown br0 ;
-       fi'
-  register: vpn_bridge_intf
+  register: vpn_bridge_interface_file
 
 - name: "restart interface"
   ansible.builtin.shell: |
@@ -32,15 +44,22 @@
         ifup br0
     fi
   when:
-    vpn_bridge_post_up_nft.changed or
-    vpn_bridge_intf.changed
+    vpn_bridge_nftables_up.changed or
+    vpn_bridge_interface_up.changed or
+    vpn_bridge_interface_file.changed
 
-- name: "pre-down nftables scripts"
-  ansible.builtin.copy:
-    src: "./{{ item }}"
-    dest: "/usr/local/sbin/{{ item }}"
+- name: "nftables down script"
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: "./nftables/down.nft"
+    dest: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/br0/nftables/down.nft"
+    mode: 0644
+
+- name: "interface down scripts"
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: "./ifupdown.d/{{ item }}"
+    dest: "{{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/br0/ifdown.d/{{ item }}"
     mode: 0755
   loop:
-    - "pre-down-br0-inet.nft"
-    - "pre-down-br0-ipv4.nft"
-    - "pre-down-br0-ipv6.nft"
+    - "00-interface"
+    - "10-nftables"
+    - "20-routes"
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/br0 b/vpn/bridge/templates/br0
deleted file mode 100644
index 04191b9..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/templates/br0
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-auto br0
-iface br0 inet6 static
-    pre-up /usr/local/sbin/ip-link-add.sh $IFACE type bridge
-
-    post-up /usr/local/sbin/post-up-$IFACE-inet.nft
-    post-up /usr/local/sbin/post-up-$IFACE-ipv6.nft
-{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
-    post-up ip -6 rule add dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
-    post-up ip -6 rule add dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet6_network }} table main priority 1
-{% endif %}
-
-{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
-    pre-down ip -6 rule del dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet6_network }} table main priority 1
-    pre-down ip -6 rule del dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
-{% endif %}
-    pre-down /usr/local/sbin/pre-down-$IFACE-ipv6.nft
-    pre-down /usr/local/sbin/pre-down-$IFACE-inet.nft
-
-    bridge_stp off
-    bridge_waitport 0
-    bridge_fd 0
-    bridge_ports none
-
-    address {{ vpn_bridge_inet6_address }}/{{ vpn_bridge_inet6_prefixlen }}
-    dad-attempts 0
-
-iface br0 inet static
-    post-up /usr/local/sbin/post-up-$IFACE-ipv4.nft
-{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
-    post-up ip rule add dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
-    post-up ip rule add dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet_network }} table main priority 1
-{% endif %}
-
-{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
-    pre-down ip rule del dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet_network }} table main priority 1
-    pre-down ip rule del dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
-{% endif %}
-    pre-down /usr/local/sbin/pre-down-$IFACE-ipv4.nft
-
-    address {{ vpn_bridge_inet_address }}/{{ vpn_bridge_inet_prefixlen }}
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/00-interface b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/00-interface
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4d9dd03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/00-interface
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+if [ ${MODE} == "start" ]
+then
+    set -ue
+elif [ ${MODE} == "stop" ]
+then
+    set -u
+else
+    echo "$(basename ${0}): mode must be one of either 'start' or 'stop'" 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+case ${PHASE} in
+    "pre-up")
+        /usr/sbin/ip link add ${IFACE} type bridge
+        /usr/sbin/ip link set ${IFACE} type bridge forward_delay 0
+
+        /usr/sbin/sysctl -q -w net.ipv6.conf.br0.autoconf=0
+
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 address add {{ vpn_bridge_inet_address }}/{{ vpn_bridge_inet_prefixlen }} dev ${IFACE}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 address add {{ vpn_bridge_inet6_address }}/{{ vpn_bridge_inet6_prefixlen }} dev ${IFACE} nodad
+        ;;
+    "post-up")
+        ;;
+    "pre-down")
+        ;;
+    "post-down")
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 address flush dev ${IFACE}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 address flush dev ${IFACE}
+
+        /usr/sbin/ip link delete ${IFACE}
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/10-nftables b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/10-nftables
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..746ca32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/10-nftables
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+if [ ${MODE} == "start" ]
+then
+    set -ue
+elif [ ${MODE} == "stop" ]
+then
+    set -u
+else
+    echo "$(basename ${0}): mode must be one of either 'start' or 'stop'" 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+IFDIR={{ system_etc_root_directory }}/network/interfaces/${IFACE}
+
+case ${PHASE} in
+    "pre-up")
+        /usr/bin/envsubst '${IFACE}' < ${IFDIR}/nftables/up.nft | /usr/sbin/nft -f /dev/stdin
+        ;;
+    "post-up")
+        ;;
+    "pre-down")
+        ;;
+    "post-down")
+        /usr/bin/envsubst '${IFACE}' < ${IFDIR}/nftables/down.nft | /usr/sbin/nft -f /dev/stdin
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/20-routes b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/20-routes
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0b49eb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/templates/ifupdown.d/20-routes
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+if [ ${MODE} == "start" ]
+then
+    set -ue
+elif [ ${MODE} == "stop" ]
+then
+    set -u
+else
+    echo "$(basename ${0}): mode must be one of either 'start' or 'stop'" 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+case ${PHASE} in
+    "pre-up")
+{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 rule add dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 rule add dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
+
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 rule add dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet_network }} table main priority 1
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 rule add dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet6_network }} table main priority 1
+{% endif %}
+        ;;
+    "post-up")
+        ;;
+    "pre-down")
+        ;;
+    "post-down")
+{% if vpn_bridge_routing_table is defined %}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 rule del dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet6_network }} table main priority 1
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 rule del dev $IFACE to {{ local_inet_network }} table main priority 1
+
+        /usr/sbin/ip -6 rule del dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
+        /usr/sbin/ip -4 rule del dev $IFACE table {{ vpn_bridge_routing_table }}
+{% endif %}
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/down.nft b/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/down.nft
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2431485
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/down.nft
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+flush table ip6 ${IFACE}_ipv6
+delete table ip6 ${IFACE}_ipv6
+
+flush table ip ${IFACE}_ipv4
+delete table ip ${IFACE}_ipv4
+
+flush table inet ${IFACE}_inet
+delete table inet ${IFACE}_inet
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/up.nft b/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/up.nft
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9b73fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vpn/bridge/templates/nftables/up.nft
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
+
+table inet ${IFACE}_inet {
+        chain postrouting {
+                type nat hook postrouting priority 100;
+                iif ${IFACE} oif { {{ [
+                        ansible_default_ipv4.interface | default(ansible_default_ipv6.interface),
+                        ansible_default_ipv6.interface | default(ansible_default_ipv4.interface)
+                    ] | unique | join(", ") }} } masquerade;
+        }
+}
+
+table ip ${IFACE}_ipv4 {
+        chain prerouting {
+                type nat hook prerouting priority -100;
+{% for forward in vpn_bridge_dnat %}
+                iif {{ ansible_default_ipv4.interface | default(ansible_default_ipv6.interface) }} tcp dport { {{ forward.ports | join(", ") }} } dnat to {{ forward.inet_address }};
+{% endfor %}
+        }
+
+        chain forward {
+                type filter hook forward priority 0;
+{% if local_inet_network is defined %}
+
+                ct state established,related accept;
+                iif ${IFACE} ip daddr {{ local_inet_network }} drop;
+{% endif %}
+{% if vpn_bridge_local_only_inet_daddr %}
+
+                # Drop all external traffic for these addresses.
+                ip saddr != {{ vpn_bridge_inet_subnet }} ip daddr { {{ vpn_bridge_local_only_inet_daddr | join(", ") }} } drop;
+{% endif %}
+        }
+}
+
+table ip6 ${IFACE}_ipv6 {
+        chain prerouting {
+                type nat hook prerouting priority -100;
+{% for forward in vpn_bridge_dnat %}
+                iif {{ ansible_default_ipv6.interface | default(ansible_default_ipv4.interface) }} tcp dport { {{ forward.ports | join(", ") }} } dnat to {{ forward.inet6_address }};
+{% endfor %}
+        }
+
+        chain forward {
+                type filter hook forward priority 0;
+{% if local_inet6_network is defined %}
+
+                ct state established,related accept;
+                iif ${IFACE} ip6 daddr {{ local_inet6_network }} drop;
+{% endif %}
+{% if vpn_bridge_local_only_inet6_daddr %}
+
+                # Drop all external traffic for these addresses.
+                ip6 saddr != {{ vpn_bridge_inet6_subnet }} ip6 daddr { {{ vpn_bridge_local_only_inet6_daddr | join(", ") }} } drop;
+{% endif %}
+        }
+}
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-inet.nft b/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-inet.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index 5d22b36..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-inet.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-table inet br0_inet {
-    chain postrouting {
-        type nat hook postrouting priority 100;
-        iif br0 oif { {{ [ansible_default_ipv4.interface, ansible_default_ipv6.interface] | unique | join(", ") }} } masquerade;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv4.nft b/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv4.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index ac1342c..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv4.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-table ip br0_ipv4 {
-        chain prerouting {
-                type nat hook prerouting priority -100;
-{% for forward in vpn_bridge_dnat %}
-                iif {{ ansible_default_ipv4.interface }} tcp dport { {{ forward.ports | join(", ") }} } dnat to {{ forward.inet_address }};
-{% endfor %}
-        }
-
-        chain forward {
-                type filter hook forward priority 0;
-{% if local_inet_network is defined %}
-
-                ct state established,related accept;
-                iif br0 ip daddr {{ local_inet_network }} drop;
-{% endif %}
-{% if vpn_bridge_local_only_inet_daddr %}
-
-                # Drop all external traffic for these addresses.
-                ip saddr != {{ vpn_bridge_inet_subnet }} ip daddr { {{ vpn_bridge_local_only_inet_daddr | join(", ") }} } drop;
-{% endif %}
-        }
-}
diff --git a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv6.nft b/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv6.nft
deleted file mode 100644
index c5414e3..0000000
--- a/vpn/bridge/templates/post-up-br0-ipv6.nft
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env -S nft -f
-
-table ip6 br0_ipv6 {
-        chain prerouting {
-                type nat hook prerouting priority -100;
-{% for forward in vpn_bridge_dnat %}
-                iif {{ ansible_default_ipv6.interface }} tcp dport { {{ forward.ports | join(", ") }} } dnat to {{ forward.inet6_address }};
-{% endfor %}
-        }
-
-        chain forward {
-                type filter hook forward priority 0;
-{% if local_inet6_network is defined %}
-
-                ct state established,related accept;
-                iif br0 ip6 daddr {{ local_inet6_network }} drop;
-{% endif %}
-{% if vpn_bridge_local_only_inet6_daddr %}
-
-                # Drop all external traffic for these addresses.
-                ip6 saddr != {{ vpn_bridge_inet6_subnet }} ip6 daddr { {{ vpn_bridge_local_only_inet6_daddr | join(", ") }} } drop;
-{% endif %}
-        }
-}