A new active travel footbridge has been lifted into place over the River Trent in Nottingham this week, marking the final project backed by the city's £160m Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).
The 87-metre-long, 175-tonne bridge was lifted into place by a crawler crane that was assembled on site last week. The structure was successfully lifted onto its new abutments following a choreographed lift plan, co-ordinated by Balfour Beatty, Mammoet and Briton Fabricators Ltd.
With the bridge now in place, the city council has turned its attention to installing ramps, steps and walkways, as well as to constructing a second, smaller bridge over Trent Basin.
Once this work is completed, the active travel bridge is set to open to the public in late Spring 2026, with the council expecting it to form ‘an important part of Nottingham's active travel network'.
Nottingham was awarded the TCF cash, intended to support projects that encourage ‘inter-city connectivity and lower carbon journeys', in 2020 following a successful bid to the Department for Transport's (DfT).
Cllr Linda Woodings, executive member for regional development, growth and transport at Nottingham City Council, said: ‘This is a big milestone moment for our project to build a new walking and cycling bridge over the river Trent – it was thrilling to be at the riverside and see the new bridge land on its supports just as planned.'
Sunil Karra, project director at Balfour Beatty, said: ‘This complex bridge lift was made possible through detailed planning and close collaboration with our project partners and the Council.'
Rushcliffe Borough Council's cabinet portfolio holder for leisure & wellbeing, ICT & member development, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, said: ‘Creating this new link for cyclists and pedestrians will create easier access to nearby open spaces in Lady Bay and West Bridgford and our local sports grounds and leisure facilities, encouraging more people to make lower carbon journeys.'
