Sod cutting to launch work on Telford footbridge

Work started on the railway section of Telford’s new footbridge last month, but Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and broadband, will perform the ‘official’ sod cutting on Tuesday.

Maria Bagnall, of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The first visible signs of progress have only just started to take shape and on Tuesday the old ramp adjacent to Platform Two will be demolished overnight.”

Invited guests will be given a tour of the site and will be able to see what plans are in place for the footbridge.

Passengers are being advised to allow more time when using Telford Central station while work continues in the area.

When completed, the Department for Transport-funded scheme will also include lifts to both platforms.

The new bridge will span two dual carriageways and a live railway line and will provide a new link between Telford Central station and Telford Town Centre.

Traffic management also began on Rampart Way and the A442 last month.

Councillor McClements added: “The new bridge will improve access to the town centre, particularly for disabled users, parents with pushchairs and cyclists.

“We hope everyone will bear with us while we build this new link and improve access for everyone to Telford town centre.”

As well as spanning the railway line, the new bridge also crosses two dual carriageways. This means that areas near the bridge, where people are working, will be separated by cones for their protection. However, on both roads one lane in each direction will remain open.

A 40mph limit on short sections in both directions of Rampart Way and the A442 will help keep traffic flowing for the duration of the project.

Site facilities for Balfour Beatty staff will be in place by early November, ready for foundations works to begin. Pedestrian access will be via temporary ramps while footpaths will remain open with diversions in place as needed.

The new glass-sided bridge will be cheaper to maintain with a path to the town centre that won’t be as steep as the current one. Wheelchair users, cyclists or people with pushchairs and heavy luggage will also have access to the new bridge via new lifts.

This will not only make the journey from the railway station easier but also a better experience with improved lighting and protection from the weather. The two dual carriageways carry about 14 million vehicles a year, with the live railway carrying four trains per hour.

The project is funded by a government grant that has been awarded to the council, which can only be spent on the project.

A flythrough of the footbridge project and a film about the traffic management are both available on the council’s website.