Humberside-based CR Reynolds has started work on a controversial £10m project for Warwickshire County Council to open up the pedestrian-only Bermuda Bridge (pictured) in Nuneaton to road traffic.
The contractor beat a fleet of other companies including Colas and NMCN to the job to build a two-way stretch of carriageway on the bridge to connect the area to St George’s Way and The Bridleway.
Bermuda Bridge was built in 1974 and designed to accommodate vehicles but is currently only used by pedestrians and cyclists.
This package is worth £4.8m to CR Reynolds and will open up the bridge to motorists, creating a direct 1.3-mile stretch of highway between West Nuneaton and the Griff Roundabout to help motorists avoid the A444, which is prone to congestion.
Cllr Jeff Clarke, the council's portfolio holder for transport and planning, welcomed the latest developments with the scheme: ‘These works are a shining testament to our commitment towards ensuring our residents are supported by excellent transport infrastructure.
‘The opening up of the Bermuda Bridge to traffic, as was always intended, will deliver a range of benefits to the people of Nuneaton and visitors to town when works are completed in Spring 2022.’
Earlier this year, the council’s cabinet voted to move ahead with the Bermuda Connectivity Scheme despite protests from other councillors over the spiralling cost, which has ballooned from an original estimate of £3.7m to the latest figure of £10.3m.
Other parts of the overall scheme will also include capacity improvements to the junction of Heath End Road and Tenlons Road Junction and traffic calming on the northern end of St Georges Way and the southern end of Bermuda Road to limit vehicle speed.
Atkins is working for the council and will supervise the construction work, which should be complete by spring 2022.
