The much anticipated new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the A429 Coventry Road in Kenilworth is being officially opened to the public on Thursday.
The bridge, which is the key element of a sustainable transport project delivered by Warwickshire County Council and charity Sustrans, will be declared open by the county council chair Cllr Phillip Morris-Jones together with local member and chair of the group responsible for making it happen, Cllr John Whitehouse, and Huw Davies from Sustrans, at noon on September 29.
The scheme will open up a new route which utilises the former Kenilworth – Berkswell railway line to provide an attractive greenway linking homes, schools and workplaces across the town, to the wider countryside.
The new bridge forms the centrepiece of a series of new links for residents in the Kenilworth, which will provide a safe and direct off-road route from the town to the University of Warwick, and a walking and cycling route between Kenilworth and the University of Warwick and from Kenilworth to Berkswell, in Solihull. The new bridge arrived on a low loader and was lifted into position overnight on September 10.
The scheme is part of a national project, part-funded from the Big Lottery Fund, who awarded Sustrans £50 million in 2007 to develop new walking and cycling routes for everyday journeys in communities across the UK.
Cllr John Whitehouse, Chair of the Connect2 Kenilworth Steering Group, said: “It will be an honour to cut the ribbon to open the new bridge, which is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the steering group and our project partners. We consulted widely about the type and style of bridge and have tried to ensure it sits well in its surroundings as well as being functional.
“The bridge is the key link in the Connect2 Kenilworth scheme which will enable walkers and cyclists to reach the popular Kenilworth Greenway from Abbey Fields car park and the centre of town through a charming and peaceful walk or cycle ride.”
Cllr Helen Walton, Warwickshire County Council’s member responsible for greenways, said: “It is fantastic to see the bridge in place and the connecting section of the route built through Kenilworth Common. The greenway has been owned by the county council for many years and used in a low key way, but connecting it to the town opens it up to so many more people without having to go by car.
“A lot of work has been done to ensure that the bridge also creates a link for wildlife by ensuring there is an upstand on the parapet and no abrupt changes in surface texture that could deter small creatures. Wildlife mitigation and enhancement works have also taken place on the Common section including opening of the tree canopy for basking reptiles and a ‘scrape’, a shallow pond to provide more diverse habitat.”
Yvonne Gilligan, Sustrans’ Regional Director for the West Midlands, said, “We’re delighted that this bridge is now open for use, finally providing a safe crossing of the busy Coventry Road that has for so long acted as a barrier to making car-free journeys in Kenilworth.
“The bridge is the centrepiece of this project, but there is still much more to come to the west of the bridge, enabling even more of the community to benefit from the new routes.
“It is fantastic to see the project being delivered and everyone is welcome to join us at the bridge site at noon on 29 September for the official photo.”