A cycle and pedestrian bridge in Peterborough, which had been earmarked for demolition by the local council, will instead be repaired giving it a further ten years of use.
Bike Biz reported on the campaign by locals, who felt that the council’s alternative to the bridge wasn’t a safe option.
Under the initial plans, the bridge would have been demolished and a series of level crossings would have been put in its place. Now, £1 million will be spent repairing Rhubarb Bridge, and the council will still add the level crossings and carry out the road widening work as planned.
The structural repairs required for the bridge should allow it to continue to be used for the next decade, during which time local groups are hoping to raise the £30 million required for a new bridge to be constructed.
Councillor Peter Hiller, cabinet member for growth, planning, housing and development at Peterborough Council, told the news provider why the council changed its mind about demolishing the structure.
“It’s a very complex bridge and we were concerned at the time it was approaching the end of its safe life, that has proved not to be the case,” he stated.
Trevor McSparron, a local resident who started the Save Rhubarb Bridge campaign, described it as “a good win”, although stressed that it isn’t over yet as they still need to raise funds for a replacement structure.
One recent bridge repair project in West Sussex took the opportunity to add a number of green features. These include replacing metal railings with sustainable timber fences and creating wildlife shelves that allow creatures to safely cross underneath the carriageway.
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