North East & Yorkshire

Connecting the community with Manchester Road Bridge

Manchester Road Bridge Bradford

A project to install a brand new cycling and walking route in Bradford has reached completion.

Manchester Road Bridge was implemented by Bradford Council in partnership with charity Sustrans. Eric Wright Civil Engineering was the main contractor on the project.

Construction of the new bridge was implemented as part of a nationwide project by Sustrans to provide new routes for walking and cycling throughout the UK. The organisation was awarded £50 million of funding by The Big Lottery Fund to get the scheme underway and the new bridge forms part of this project.

In addition to Manchester Road Bridge, Bradford Council is working with Sustrans to create a new mountain biking hub at St Ives and will also conduct a number of improvement works on the Canal Road corridor.

Bike It Officer for Sustans, Emily Picken, said:

“The bridge is going to make a real difference to how we all make our everyday journeys in Bradford, providing a safe walking and cycling route linking homes, schools, colleges, the university and St Luke’s Hospital and more.”

Manchester Road Bridge Bradford

Manchester Road Bridge stretches 210 metres in length and comprises 350 tonnes of steel. The bridge is supported by almost 100 piles that were buried deep into the ground and the central steel column reaches more than 17 metres above Manchester Road.

At the peak of the bridge a number of coloured lights have been embedded into the structure and these will be used by Bradford Council to advertise events that take place in the city.

Whilst work was undertaken on the new bridge, roads were closed to traffic between St Stephen’s Road and Ripley Street – with a few diversions taking place along Bowling Old Lane – however disruptions for road users were kept to a minimum.

To mark the official opening of the new bridge in Bradford, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on September 1st 2012. As the bridge has been designed for community use, Newby Primary School student Mohammed Hamzah will cut the ribbon, after winning the opportunity to be at the event in a competition.

Manchester Road Bridge Bradford

Mohammed Hamzah, commented:

“At first I thought I wasn’t going to win. Now I know I’ve won I’m really happy and my parents are proud of me.”

Manchester Road Bridge officially opens to the public on 1st September 2012.

 

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