A new bridge over the River Goyt in Woodbank Park has been installed to improve walking and cycling routes in the borough.
The bridge forms part of Stockport Council’s £73 million investment in its Town Centre Access Plan (TCAP), making it easier to travel into and around Stockport town centre regardless of the mode of transport used.
The 40 m bridge was installed over the River Goyt, close to Pear Mill in Bredbury on Friday 17th July, and is one of the key milestones of the TCAP project.
The bridge forms part of a new off-road walking and cycling route between Bredbury and Little Moor, through Woodbank Park. The new link will mean two parts of Stockport’s existing National Cycle Network – the Alan Newton Way at Bredbury Hall and Fred Perry Way in Woodbank Park – are connected for the first time.
Once the works have been completed, the route will also link in to the Greater Manchester-wide ‘Bee Network’, led by Andy Burnham’s Mayoral Challenge Fund and Chris Boardman, the Walking and Cycling commissioner.
Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
The completion of today’s work is an incredibly significant moment for the borough.
“The new bridge over the River Goyt will create not only a new landmark for the town but also provide a new walking and cycling link between the town centre and the east of the borough.
“Once the works are completed, they will link in to further infrastructure work taking place that will help Stockport become one of the best places in Greater Manchester to travel around either on foot or on bike.”
The bridge lift was completed in partnership with Bethell Construction, CTS Bridges and Ainscough Crane Hire.
The bridge and associated paths, will link into a new segregated cycleway that was completed in summer 2018 on Stockport Road West between New Zealand Road and the Vernon Park car park.
TCAP has been delivered in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester and is funded by the Government’s Growth Deal Fund.