New bridge over River Trent to open spring 2026 after delays

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The proposed bridge over the River Trent (NCC)

The proposed bridge over the River Trent (NCC)

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent will now cost up to double its original budget and won’t open until spring 2026 following delays.

It will become the first new bridge over the river in 65 years, and will link Trent Basin, off Daleside Road in the city, to the south bank of the river in Lady Bay, Rushcliffe.

A full planning application was submitted by Nottingham City Council in February, and councillors unanimously supported the proposals at a meeting earlier this year in April.

This was followed by planning approval from Rushcliffe Borough Council in July.

Work was due to begin in the summer of 2024, but the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported in August it had been pushed back to 2025.

To provide the Government with assurance and secure all remaining funding for the bridge from its Transforming Cities Fund, city councillors will approve the finalised project at an Executive Board meeting on October 22.

Documents published ahead of the meeting confirm physical construction work will begin in the summer of 2025, followed by a planned opening by spring 2026.

They also reveal a “key risk” remains in confirming all funding from the Department for Transport, because the scheme is now being delivered outside of grant funding deadlines.

“Discussions continue with a view to ensuring the full allocation can be contractually committed prior to the end of the calendar year,” papers say.

“Subject to approvals, the main delivery contract will be signed in January 2025, with enabling works starting shortly after.

“The bridge will be constructed on-site in the summer of 2025 and lifted into place at the end of the year, with the remaining steps, ramps and public realm areas being completed in spring 2026.”

A CGI of the proposed River Trent bridge showing the network arch structure
A CGI of the proposed River Trent bridge

The council had anticipated the bridge would cost in the region of £9m, however, this increased to £12m due to inflation.

Now papers say the maximum budget for the project has increased again to £18m.

Contractor Balfour Beatty will submit a final price to construct the bridge in December.

Part of the riverbank on the south side, on which the bridge and
supporting ramps will sit, is still in the ownership of the Environment Agency.

The council says it intended to conduct the work on its land by agreement, but the Environment Agency has since said it would prefer the council to purchase the land.

Documents show in-principle agreements are now in place to acquire the land, subject to approval.

Two years ago, Nottinghamshire County Council decided it would not be making any financial contributions to the construction costs or ongoing maintenance of the new bridge.

All future maintenance costs for the new bridge will fall to Nottingham City Council.

The bridge has a designed working life of more than 120 years, and with routine inspection and maintenance, the council says it should exceed this.

Routine inspections will cost around £1,500 each year.

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