This week, partners were invited to tour the new walking and cycling bridge being built at Trent Basin before it is lifted into place this November.
Officers from partner authorities Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council joined others who have been instrumental in getting the bridge project off the ground.
That includes partners including project delivery lead Balfour Beatty, Britons, the Canal and River Trust, the Environment Agency, Pedals, Blueprint, Geldards, Pick Everard, Active Travel England and funders the Department for Transport.
The bridge will be the flagship, and final project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which began in 2020 following a successful bid for over £160million of central Government funding for projects which encourage inter-city connectivity and lower carbon journeys.
The new traffic-free bridge, the first to be built over the river Trent since Clifton Bridge in the 1950s, and new and enhanced connecting paths will be a key link between the regenerating Trent Basin area with new homes and schools, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club.
By enhancing connections between communities, green spaces and riverside paths, the bridge will make it easier for people living and working in the Nottingham area to travel in a more sustainable way, linking those in communities such as Sneinton and the city centre with green space south of the river.
The new bridge will also help the city towards its Carbon Neutral 2028 ambition as well as improving local air quality and congestion levels by enabling people to get around for work or play without needing a car.
Planning for this ambitious and complex project has been underway since 2019, with many important milestones already achieved including public consultations, detailed design work, land agreements, securing planning permission from the City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils, as well as working with the Environment Agency, local residents and other stakeholders to make sure the new bridge works for everyone.
The 87metre, 175tonne bridge is now assembled and being thoroughly checked before a huge CC6800 crawler crane lifts it into place week beginning 10 November. The bridge lift is subject to the weather conditions and therefore an exact date or time cannot be confirmed.
Nottingham City Council will confirm areas that the public would be able to see the bridge lift. It is expected that the entire bridge lift process will take at several hours, and Nottingham City Council and Balfour Beatty will share pictures and videos of the bridge lift once it is complete.
Once the bridge is lifted into place over the river, further work will take place before the bridge can be used, ramps, steps and hard and soft landscaping will need to be completed including paving, planting and lighting. The bridge is expected to open in Spring 2026.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said “We’re getting to the really exciting part of the Transforming Cities funded bridge project as we gear up for the bridge to be lifted into place in early November.
As we approach this milestone and the final few months of works before the new bridge opens in the spring, I know that many local people are looking forward to using the new bridge for walks, runs, commuting by bike and many other leisure activities.”
Sunil Karra, Project Director at Balfour Beatty said: “We’re extremely pleased with the progress being made on this landmark project as we move towards the exciting next milestone, the bridge lift this November.
“Delivering a structure of this scale and complexity requires close collaboration and we look forward to working with Nottingham City Council – and our partners – to bring this bridge to life.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing, ICT & Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “This is another step closer to more connectivity for residents on both sides of the river for further opportunities to travel in a more sustainable way.
“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.”
Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “It is good to see the progress on the new bridge which will support making travel easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
“The bridge will open up access to key destinations such as Holme Pierrepont Country Park and the National Water Sports Centre, allowing even more residents and visitors to discover the wide range of activities our area has to offer.
“I hope the new bridge and improved paths will inspire more people to embrace walking and cycling, supporting our vision for a healthier and more vibrant city and county for everyone.”