Manton Lane footbridge installation delayed due to Coronavirus outbreak

The planned installation of a new footbridge at Manton Lane, which was due to take place this month, has been delayed until January 2021 due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at a sub-contractors facility.

There have been works ongoing at Manton Lane, with the road widened and traffic signals installed earlier this year which will make the road safer, and help ease traffic at this well-known traffic hotspot.

Finishing works including surfacing and final fencing elements will take place in late December to finish on Saturday 2 January, ahead of the bridge being installed.

The footbridge installation will take place between 18:00 on Friday 22 January and 06:00 on Monday 25 January. The road will be closed throughout these works and a signed diversion will be in place. Once installed the bridge will undergo a final safety inspection before being opened to the public.

Due to the disruption this closure will cause to local bus services, with three stops unable to be served by the number 6 bus, the Council will be providing a free shuttle bus service between Manton Lane/Brickhill Drive, via Gainsborough Rise and Turner Way, to the bus station. Further details on this will be available in the New Year.

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Highways said "It is unfortunate that the installation of this footbridge will have to be delayed- but it is of course right that the sub-contractors follow the measures they have to, to keep their staff and the public safe. The former bridge was demolished over a decade ago, and we have seen the impact that this has had on traffic in the area. Once installed in late January, this footbridge will make it easier for pedestrians to cross this busy road, improve road safety and ease congestion in this area."

This project is part of Transporting Bedford, an £18million project to tackle congestion hotspots in Bedford, funded by both Bedford Borough Council and £15.5M funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), through the Local Growth Fund and represents the largest ever investment in Bedford's roads.