Fresh calls for fourth Nottingham road bridge over the River Trent

The River Trent
By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter

Two council leaders say they want to see a fourth road bridge built over the River Trent in Nottingham to ease congestion problems across the county.

The new bridge – which could be built near Colwick Industrial Estate and Victoria Park – would be open to vehicles.

But major Government investment to the tune of around £50m would be needed to make the vision a reality.

Discussions on a new Nottingham bridge for motorists have been in the pipeline for decades.

Gedling Borough Council says it has conduced two feasibility studies in the past and welcomes plans to bring the proposal to life.

Ben Bradley, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and Conservative MP for Mansfield, said the campaign to bring a fourth bridge to Nottinghamshire was being led by fellow Conservative and Gedling MP Tom Randall.

He said: “This is very much Tom Randall’s campaign, and although supportive of it, as like all major projects it needs significant Government funding to get it off the ground.”

There are currently five bridges connecting Nottingham city with the south bank of the Trent.

Clifton Bridge, Trent Bridge and Lady Bay Bridge serve all road traffic.

Wilford Toll Bridge is open to trams, cycles and pedestrians. Lastly the Wilford Suspension Bridge is a cycle and pedestrian only crossing.

But between Lady Bay Bridge, the most easterly of the five crossings, and the next road route over the river out at Gunthorpe, there is currently a distance of just over nine miles – around a twenty minute journey by car.

Government money to the tune of £9.2m has already been secured for a pedestrian and cycle bridge at Trent Basin, east of Lady Bay Bridge and the City Ground, which is due to be opened in Spring 2023.

This bridge will provide better access between West Bridgford, Lady Bay and the city centre as well as Colwick Park from the south of the river.

But council leaders now want to see another bridge built that would be open to motorists and ease congestion problems on Trent Bridge.

Cllr John Clarke (Lab), leader of Gedling Borough Council, said the local authority has been fighting to bring another bridge to  serve motorists for years.

“This bridge will make things a lot better because there will be a freer movement of vehicles, especially as we move to electric and more energy efficient vehicles,” he said.

“Traffic is currently jammed on Trent Bridge and is not much fun. It will be a massive benefit to Gedling and Newark and Sherwood. We have done two feasibility studies that show it is feasible to build it.

“The figure would be about £50m. The best place to put it would be the back of Victoria Park.

“It would also create an easier route to places like Bingham and Holme Pierrepont. It is a win, win. We need this bridge for our infrastructure and local economy.”