York footbridge lifted out by rail crane to make way for new accessible structure

York footbridge lifted out by rail crane to make way for new accessible structure

19 February 2019

Earlier this month, the old foot crossing at Scarborough Bridge, was removed overnight by rail crane to make way for a new and improved cycling and pedestrian bridge, as part of a £4 million upgrade through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's £60 million CityConnect programme.

At 3.7metres, the new, bridge will be more than three times as wide and 65 metres long. It will be lifted into place by crane from the railway track in two separate phases on two further overnight operations during the coming weeks.

Step-free access

The new bridge due to open to the public in March, offering step-free access with ramps as well as new external steps leading to the riverside paths. On the southern side a new path on the top of the embankment will mean users can travel directly between York Station and the new bridge, providing a traffic free, scenic route to the city centre. It will be accessible even when the river is in flood, well lit and covered by CCTV.

The £4 million project has been part-financed by a £1.9 million grant through the Combined Authority's CityConnect programme plus external funding from central government grants, including Local Growth Funding, which the council has bid for over the past three years in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

 

Robert Stephenson

The original bridge was designed and built by Robert Stephenson in 1845. Originally, the walkway was between the railway tracks and was accessed by internal steps. When York Station was moved between 1873 and 1875, the bridge was updated to make it suitable. This is when the current footbridge, which has remained largely unchanged for the last 144 years, was installed.

Find out more about our CityConnect programme