Latest news with #footbridge
BBC News
6 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Devon footbridge closed in 2023 set for repairs
A "vital" footbridge in East Devon which has been closed to the public for almost two years is being dismantled so it can be repaired. Coleridge Bridge, which links the two parts of Ottery St Mary, closed to the public in December 2023 after being hit by a tree, which damaged its deck and County Council said a delay in repairing the the bridge was due to "environmental considerations" in planning the work with the Environment Jess Bailey said she was optimistic the "absolutely vital link for residents" would be repaired and opened to the public in September. A crane was being used to dismantle the bridge in sections before it would be transported off site for repairs, project staff said. Bailey said: "I'm delighted we have reached this major milestone in the re-instatement of Coleridge Bridge. "The footbridge is an absolutely vital link for residents of Ottery St Mary and students of the Kings School. "I'm really optimistic that the bridge will be opened in September which will be excellent news." Consideration from the Environment Agency was needed as repair work to the bridge's central support involves working within the riverbed. Councillor Dan Thomas said: "Everyone would have wanted this work to have got under way sooner."There's been a lot of discussions and planning with the Environment Agency in advance of getting on site to ensure environmental considerations have been factored into the work."
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire County Council has 'head in sand' over footbridge
A footbridge that has been closed for a decade has led to accusations a council is "like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand".A campaign group is calling on Gloucestershire County Council chiefs to reopen the public right of way at Pilley Footbridge in Charlton decaying bridge closed in 2015 due to safety concerns and has not reopened since. John Kadwell, co-ordinator of Pilley Footbridge Action Group, said the council was hoping "the problem would disappear".Gloucestershire County Council said it is exploring "solutions to restore access". As the highways authority, Gloucestershire County Council is responsible for maintaining the ownership of the footbridge was transferred to the Cheltenham Corporation, Cheltenham Borough Council's predecessor authority in Kadwell said: "We owe it to our ancestors who used and created the many footpaths in Cheltenham to ensure that they still exist."It is accepted that the bridge would still be in situ and a future danger if ignored."County highways cabinet member Joe Harris said he "fully understands" residents' concerns."We want to work with Cheltenham Borough Council to repair the bridge or explore alternative solutions to restore access to this important footpath within the Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve," Mr Harris added."Our goal is to find a solution that restores public access while safeguarding the natural environment."A spokesperson of Cheltenham Borough Council added: "Gloucestershire County Council, as the local highways authority, is responsible for the maintenance and access of the Pilley Footbridge."Cheltenham Borough Council is aware of the concerns raised by the local community group and these concerns are being discussed with technical officers, this has recently included enabling access to the site to assess the bridge."
BBC News
11-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Saltaire footbridge closure will cause one-mile diversion
Pedestrians will face a mile-long diversion while major maintenance work takes place on a footbridge in Road Footbridge in Roberts Park will be out of use from 4 to 15 August, Bradford Council "essential maintenance" on the River Aire crossing will include replacing the bearings, which are "no longer allowing the footbridge to move as designed", a spokesperson diversion will take pedestrians along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to a footpath near Hirst Lock which they can use to cross the river, before making their way back to Roberts Park. Not replacing the bearings could affect the structural integrity of the bridge and eventually lead to it needing to be replaced altogether, the council said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Drivers warned ahead of weekend M3 closures
Part of the M3 will be closed from Friday and is due to reopen on Monday so a footbridge can be installed, National Highways has motorway will shut between junction three (Lightwater) and junction four (Frimley) for the whole weekend, while the Bagshot Heath footbridge that was demolished in 2023 is replaced. The southbound entry slip roads are due to close at 12:00 BST on Friday, before the whole northbound carriageways shut at 19:00 and the southbound at 21: motorway is set to reopen in both directions by 06:00 on Monday, National Highways said. National Highways has urged drivers to plan their journeys ahead. Closures are needed after engineers found issues with the previous footbridge's ability to withstand crashes from over-height vehicles, it said. The new, UK-made footbridge, which weighs nearly 100 tonnes and is 206ft (63m) long, will be lifted into place. The footbridge was originally due to be installed in April, but work had to be delayed due to a now-resolved issue with the concrete. Further work will be needed before the footbridge can be used by the public. National Highways says this will be done during a series of overnight closures on the M3, with the footbridge expected to open later in the summer. The lack of a footbridge has meant pedestrians have to take a 1.7-mile (2.7km) detour to get to and from Bagshot and Lightwater Country Park.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
South Bank station's unsafe footbridge demolition begins
Construction of a new train station footbridge has begun after the existing one was deemed to build the temporary bridge at South Bank station, near Middlesbrough, will take about a month, which will also see the old structure discovered serious safety defects with the bridge in October, forcing Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to close it to the Tees Valley Combined Authority's (TVCA) head of transport, Alan Weston, said the new bridge would be open for use by the end of July or early August. Once complete, the bridge will provide access to both platforms as well as to Smith's Dock Road, to the north of the station, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said most of the work would take place overnight and on weekends to minimise temporary structure has been designed to last between three and five years and will be in place until the station is redeveloped and a permanent solution is March, Mr Weston said the wider redevelopment of the station was a two to three-year project, but building the temporary bridge was the more immediate priority. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
