The new foot and cycle bridge linking the residential area of Chaddesden with the Wyvern and Pride Park is due to be opened later today.
Derby City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transportation, Councillor Matthew Holmes will be joined by Amanda Solloway MP and Chaddesden ward councillors to officially open the bridge.
The ribbon-cutting at both entrances to the bridge will take place in a low-key event given the current COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.
Residents will be able to view the opening on the Council’s social media channels and website.
The new bridge will significantly enhance walking and cycling in the area, creating a fully accessible route over the A52.
The ramps and four-metre wide bridge deck have an anti-slip surface over the distance of 356 metres from Meadow Lane to Wyvern Way and will be safely lit with handrail lighting.
A52 Wyvern Transport Improvement Scheme
The opening of the bridge also signifies the completion of the A52 Wyvern Transport Improvement Scheme.
D2N2 invested £6.7m from the Local Growth Fund into the scheme which links Derby city centre and Pride Park business park with the wider region.
This has been a major infrastructure project for Derby and the changes will help to reduce congestion, improve journey times and reliability, increase sustainable travel and support wider economic growth.
Councillor Matthew Holmes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transportation said: “The opening of the new bridge and connected footways is one of the final steps towards operational completion of the project and I’m delighted, despite all of the challenges, that we are now about to officially open it for use by the public.”
“Clearly, there have been very significant challenges, but I cannot fault the professionalism and determination of the project team we put into place after inheriting a project with very significant issues back in 2018. Since then, the team have robustly delivered what was demanded of them, on or under the revised budget, and I cannot ask any more than that.”
“I want the bridge opening to be a celebration of those efforts and I know that it is something that will be well used by residents and also support active travel for many decades to come.”
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