Warwickshire News Mine

1 September 2008

Black Path Footbridge to be improved

Warwickshire County Council is to upgrade the southern access to the Black Path footbridge in Rugby.

The improvements will make this well-used bridge more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists and those with mobility problems, and will include CCTV to improve safety.

It is being funded through the County Council’s Local Transport Plan, which aims to improve accessibility and safety.

The upgrading of the Black Path footbridge, which was last improved in the 1960s when the West Coast Main Line (WCML) was electrified, is happening over three stages.

The first stage of works were completed last year, when Network Rail replaced the main bridge span as part of the WCML route upgrade. The second phase of work includes the replacement of the existing southern access steps and bridge span across the Woodside Business Park with a new bridge span and ramp. The third and final phase will see the replacement of the steps on the northern side of the footbridge with a ramp. These works are due to take place as part of the Sustrans ‘Connect2’ project to improve the Leicester Road viaduct as a cycle route. This, along with the upgraded Black Path footbridge will form part of Route 53 of the National Cycle Network between Birmingham and Northamptonshire.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, says: “This is a great opportunity to reduce the accessibility difficulties which are caused by the railway line in Rugby, and improve the linkages between the north and south of the town. With the imminent relocation of Warwickshire College to the former Alstom/GEC site, this investment will hopefully encourage those using the facility to walk or cycle rather than take the car. We are also making this investment to continue our commitment to assist the development of the National Cycle Network.”

Demolition of the existing span over the Woodbridge Business Park and the southern steps is due to begin in October 2008. The works to provide the new structure and associated ramp are due to be completed by January 2009. During this period, the footbridge will not be available for public use.

Although the footbridge will not be fully accessible for pedestrians or cyclists until the third phase of the works have been completed, it is hoped that this will only be a temporary arrangement. Until then, signs will be provided on the southern access to the footbridge to warn users that the steps on the northern side are still in use.

Ends

For more information, contact Adrian Hart in the Transport Planning Group on 01926 735667 or email adrianhart@warwickshire.gov.uk. Alternatively contact Pete O’Connor in the Bridge Design Team on 01926 412025 or email peteroconnor@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Information for Editors:

1. The Black Path footbridge is jointly owned by Network Rail and Warwickshire County Council. Network Rail own (and are responsible for) the main bridge span over the West Coast Main Line and the steps on the northern side. Warwickshire County Council own (and are responsible for) the bridge span over the Woodside Business Park and the steps on the southern side. A public right of way exists over the footbridge.

2. The replacement span over the West Coast Main Line was provided as part of the WCML upgrade between London and Glasgow. These works are due to be completed by Network Rail in time for the commencement of the December 2008 timetable.

3. The Warwickshire Local Transport Plan was submitted by the County Council to the Department for Transport in March 2006, and runs for five years from 2006/7 to 2010/11. The Plan aims to improve transport across Warwickshire for all transport users, including pedestrians, cyclists and the mobility impaired. The proposal to improve the Black Path footbridge is set out in the Eastern Warwickshire Area section of the Plan. Funding through the Local Transport Plan is provided to the County Council by the Government in the form of supported borrowing.

4. Over the next 5 years £50 million of Big Lottery Funding will be matched with more than £100 million of other funding through the Sustrans Connect2 project to create dedicated, high quality local walking and cycling networks benefiting millions of people across the UK from Devon to Perthshire. Two schemes are due to take place in Warwickshire, these being the provision of a new/enhanced route between Kenilworth and Warwick University, and in Rugby between the town centre and the Oxford Canal. This will include the opening up of the former railway viaduct over the Leicester Road.

Link to WCC