At the moment if you want to walk or cycle between Eaton Socon and Eynesbury you have to make a considerable detour. For many people it is difficult to get to work, school or to the shops by foot or bike.

A new bridge in this area would make walking and cycling a safe and attractive way for people of all ages to make everyday journeys using more sustainable forms of transport.

Background

A public consultation on the route for a new cycle path and bridge took place in 2003, with the majority of respondents supporting the bridge. The most popular route from the consultation was then taken forward for detailed design.

Since then, there has been a change to the detailed design of the bridge and we want to find out what people in the local area think.

The bridge

A flood risk assessment was undertaken on the likelihood of the bridge flooding, which estimated that the bridge could be closed once in every ten years due to flooding. Elevated approach ramps were originally considered the best way to mitigate any possible closure of the bridge, as a result of flooding, so the bridge was originally going to be a total of 560 metres in length.

However, as the bridge might have been closed only once in every ten years, such long and elevated approach ramps are no longer considered necessary, as they are more expensive.

The new designs show a bridge and approach ramps that are a total of 134 metres in length, which you can see below. Shorter approach ramps will mean that the bridge could potentially be closed for a few days roughly every two years due to flooding, but the money saved will mean that the bridge can get built much quicker.

The structure of the bridge will be made up of a ‘bow string arch’ bridge along with a 3m-wide cycle and footpath approaching it. The access ramps at either end of the bridge would be of a gentle gradient (1 in 20), to allow access for people with a disability.

The bridge structure and approach paths would be lit at night-time and it is going to be constructed from steel with hardwood timber parapets, from sustainable sources. The bridge deck will be made of steel and coated with an anti-slip surface.

Where the bridge crosses the river, it would be made up of twin tubular steel arches and would have a span of approximately 38.4 metres. The bridge height has been designed to minimise its visual impact, whilst maintaining good clearance for boats.

A revised plan of the bridge and a location plan are available on the right hand side of this page.

Possible timeline of key events

Please note, the timescales given are indicative and may be subject to change.

Connect2 and the The Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Living Landmarks: The people’s millions

Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, has made a submission called Connect2 to The Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Living Landmarks: The people’s millions programme – a groundbreaking competition that will award a single grant of up to £50 million to the winning project.

Connect2 is made up of a variety of national schemes up and down the country that will transform communities so that journeys by foot or by bike become easy and accessible to all. The final list of Connect2 schemes will be delivered over a five-year period, but this is dependant on winning the public vote in December 2007.

The St Neots Foot and Cycle Bridge is one of the schemes that has been shortlisted for the Connect2 bid, and could receive up to £700,000 if Connect2 wins the final vote. This money will be used as additional funding for the bridge which means that the bridge will be built whether Connect2 wins the public vote or not.

There are currently six other projects up and down the country being considered for Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

For more information about Connect2 go to the link on the right hand side.

How much will the bridge cost and who is paying for it?

The bridge is estimated to cost £2.5 million and it is being paid for by funding from Cambridgeshire County Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and developers working in the area.

We want to know what you think

A consultation to update local residents on the new designs for the bridge will be taking place later this year and early next year, but if you have any comments in the meantime, please take a look at the new plans for the bridge and let us know your views.

You can contact us using the details on the right hand side.