Skip to content

Bridge linking new town to city to officially open

Katy Prickett
News imageTom Jackson/BBC A view from the apex of a footbridge, looking towards countryside in the distance. There are silver-coloured railings on either side and the path is pathed in square tiles. Tom Jackson/BBC
The bridge has been used by some residents, ahead of its official opening

A footbridge which links a new town with a city is to be officially opened later.

The bridge over the A10 connects the new town at Waterbeach to Landbeach and Cambridge.

Some walkers, cyclists and horse riders have already had the chance to use it following its completion last month.

"We've already seen that residents of the new town have been able to get jobs in Landbeach and vice versa," said Fiona Reardon-Rose, from developers Urban&Civic.

"And then for leisure activities, we're seeing residents from Longbeach come across and be able to cycle around the lake [at the new town], have a coffee in the cafe and explore the area in a new way," the communications and partnership manager said.

News imageUrban&Civic An aerial shot of a footbridge spannning the A10 near the site of the new town at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, with the road cutting through the landscape from bottom left to top right. On either side of the single carriageway road are fields and trees or hedgerows.Urban&Civic
The bridge spans the A10 - a busy commuter road, which links drivers to the A14 and brings them into north Cambridge
News imageUrban&Civic A large orange crane swinging the flat bridge part of a footbridge into place above the single carriageway A10 near Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. The road is closed, a worker in an orange hi-vis with a white hat is behind the red barrier. On either side of the road is a verge and hedgerows or trees. On the right is a temporary silver fence and another worker in orange hi-vis with a white hat, sitting on a concrete wall.Urban&Civic
The road had to be closed for two weekends, allowing the bridge to be built ahead of schedule

The new bridge, which was manufactured off-site, is an upgrade to Mere Way and offers users access to a direct, largely off-road connection to Cambridge.

The largest section weighed 70 tonnes and was 28m (92ft) long. It was lifted into place using a 650-tonne crane.

Construction workers built the bridge by working 24 hours a day in shifts during two separate weekend road closures.

News imageTom Jackson/BBC Fiona Reardon-Rose standing on a footbridge with high railings behind her. She has dark brown hair pulled back from her face and is wearing a tan jacket with a blue cord collar. Behind her and through the railings can be seen the single carriageway A10, with cars travelling in both directions and grass verge, hedgerows and fields on either side.Tom Jackson/BBC
Fiona Reardon-Rose said the bridge encouraged people to use active modes of transport in their daily life

Planning permission has been granted for 4,500 homes at the new town, as well as business, retail, community, leisure and sports buildings, and new primary and secondary schools plus a sixth form centre.

It is being built beside the existing village of Waterbeach.

Reardon-Rose said: "I think delivering infrastructure along with those houses is a really crucial piece of the puzzle.

"It's a piece of connection enabling people to choose to walk or cycle for work or leisure, and just really encouraging people to use active modes of transport as they go about their daily life."

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links