A CRANE is the towering signal that work to replace the damaged footbridge to Newbold Comyn in Leamington is finally underway.
Warwick District Council has at last received permission from the Environment Agency to proceed with the removal of the existing bridge over the River Leam between Radford Road and Newbold Comyn country park.
As a result of this approval, preparations for the installation of a new 3.5 metre-wide pedestrian and cycle bridge are beginning.
Contractors started setting up their compound and ensuring the site was ready for the arrival of a crane to remove the old bridge on Monday (March 4).
They will also be carrying out ground investigations that will inform the design and location of the new bridge abutments required for the planned new wider bridge.
The new bridge will be bigger and better than the existing one which had to be closed in August last year on safety grounds.
WDC has been working on a plan of action about how to fix the bridge ever since.
The council had hoped to be able to repair the existing bridge but following investigations with specialist contractors, a ‘quick fix’ solution to re-instating pedestrian access to Newbold Comyn had to be ruled out.
WDC was left with no option but to replace the bridge and decided, due to the fact the footbridge was also an essential piece of the National Cycle Network, now was the chance to upgrade it.
But the earliest installation date is estimated to be late summer, chiefly due to ecological factors.
The Environment Agency highlighted that due to protected salmonids in the river certain works could not take place between October 1 and June 15.
WDC’s neighbourhood services spokesperson Coun Will Roberts said: “I am pleased that we have now received permission from the Environment Agency which will allow us to progress our work to reinstate this important public access point to Newbold Comyn. I want to thank council officers for their extensive work behind the scenes on this project and also the public for their patience while this intricate and lengthy process is taking place.”
The Radford Road car park will be closed for three weeks while the works are in progress.
