Councillors, contractors, council staff and funding agencies were all praised for a great team effort when they came together for the official opening of the newly pedestrianised area along Nene Parade in Wisbech.
The project, carried out in two phases, involved the provision of environmental improvements along the waterfront, and was carried out as part of a larger waterfront regeneration scheme.
Both phases of the waterfront environmental improvements were carried out by J. Breheny Contractors.
The first phase, comprised the laying of new paving, landscaping, the installation of new street furniture and the construction of a viewing platform to an approximately 150 metre section along the waterfront.
The second phase, which commenced in October 2010 and was completed in June 2011, comprised similar works along a further section of the waterfront, connecting the new pedestrianised area with Freedom Bridge and the local police station.
The new pedestrianised area, which incorporates a pedestrian crossing on Freedom Bridge, provides walkers and cyclists from the Waterlees and Clarkson wards with a safe and attractive route through to the Boathouse and town centre.
The completed works also included the construction of a new link road between Chase Street and De Havilland Road, a new access road into the rear of the police station and junction improvements to Lynn Road/De Havilland Road.
Challenges overcome in the scheme included the need to divert a water main which obstructed the works.
The scheme marked the successful completion of all the essential infrastructure for Fenland District Council’s Nene Waterfront Regeneration Project. Speaking at the opening, Councillor Chris Seaton, FDC’s Deputy leader, said: “The opening of the Nene Parade marks another important milestone for the Nene Waterfront Regeneration Project.
“The works completed to date have already transformed the look of the area and hopefully we will not have to wait too long before the development land comes forward to complete this ambitious project.”
Cllr Seaton praised everyone involved in the project. He paid tribute to Fenland District Council’s in-house engineering team, Main Contractors Breheny, Cognition for its land remediation work, and other partners, including Cambridgeshire County Council. And he was delighted to receive an award for environmental excellence from CEEQUAL, the body that promotes sustainability in civil engineering, landscaping and the public realm.
