Focus on proposals for Telford's new £7 million footbridge
Fresh plans for a new footbridge which is being built to provide a link between Telford town centre and the central railway station will be discussed next month.
Initial surveying work started last month followed by some clearance of vegetation ahead of the approaching bird nesting season.
Earthworks and civil engineering construction will begin on the structures of the bridge later in the spring. The proposals for the project are expected to be debated by Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee on April 26.
The new bridge will replace the existing red footbridge and cycle route, which council chiefs say is expensive to maintain, too steep and does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
It is expected that work will start on site to build the new bridge in late June or early July this year.
The new bridge is likely to be lifted into place in late February/early March 2018, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Telford New Town.
Work would then begin on the removal and demolition of the existing red bridge, with all work expected to be completed by late June/early July 2018.
Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "This is a massive and extremely challenging but exciting project which will create a visually stunning gateway to Telford town centre and the submission of the final planning application is an important milestone.
"We have been working hard over the last few years on improving the connectivity and accessibility of the town centre but we have been conscious that Telford Central station is still out on a limb.
"The new footbridge will create a much more user friendly and attractive link between the town centre with its shops, leisure facilties, Southwater restaurants and our award winning town park with the Telford Central railway station.
"Going forward a detailed planning report will be submitted to our planning committee which will explain how the project will come to fruition and what provision will be in place for pedestrians to access the station while it is taking place."
The footbridge project has already been approved by Telford & Wrekin Council's Planning Committee.
However, the new application features a slightly amended design to reduce the weight of the bridge.
