A FOOTBRIDGE in Reading is set to close temporarily after vital refurbishments have been delayed.
Reading Borough Council has announced that the Orbit footbridge behind Queen’s Road Car Park is set to be closed, citing safety concerns.
The bridge is in need of strengthening, but the withdrawal of funding previously announced by the Department for Transport means that money earmarked for the repairs is no longer available.
The council has postponed planned works until further funding can be found for the refurbishment.
It is estimated that £1.5m is needed to complete the Orbit Footbridge refurbishment and Phase 7 of the Kennetside retaining wall programme, which has also been postponed at this time due to the removal of the funding.
Strengthening works will now become part of the council’s forward bridges programme, with the delivery of this dependent on a Department for Transport funding award for local transport plan (LTP) Bridges and Carriageways.
An announcement on that funding is expected in the spring.
Built around 1990 and mainly a steel structure with wooden decking boards, Orbit Footbridge has deteriorated over the years and requires replacement decking boards and the metal elements repainted.
The bridge closed temporarily during Reading Festival this year, but was reopened shortly after.
During the closure, the council is advising pedestrians to use public highway routes such as Duke Street as an alternative, with signed diversions set to be in place.
Recent repairs on the Duke Street bridge have concluded in time for the diversion.
Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:
“It is obviously a disappointment that the scheduled refurbishment and repair of Orbit Footbridge has had to be postponed, and in the interim with the protection and safety of our residents and pedestrians being our primary concern we’ve taken the regrettable decision to close the footbridge.
“We hope residents will understand, and we are fortunate that there are nearby alternatives for foot traffic through the area until the bridge is able to be repaired. It is very much in our plans to complete this work when funding allows as soon as possible.
“Already this year we’ve invested in some important and well received bridge improvements, including the new wider and modern King’s Meadow Footbridge, and vital work to improve and protect the nearby Grade II Listed High Bridge at Duke Street which was restored sympathetically.”
She explained: “This does also highlight the challenges around funds for such maintenance and the necessity for essential funding to allow us to maintain our bridges and structures. We will always prioritise ‘safety first’ with all our bridges and we will continue to work hard to improve structures like these for residents.”
