THE county's new cycling and foot bridge has now opened officially.

The Broomhall Way Footbridge, which offers a crossing over the A4440 Southern Link Road in Worcester is now fully open for pedestrians and cyclists.

It provides a link between the new commercial and housing development on the south of the A4440 to Power Park in St Peter’s on the north.

Cllr Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways and transport for Worcestershire County Council, said: "This is another major milestone moment on the Southern Link Road scheme, with yet more infrastructure now in place to improve walking and cycling connectivity.

"This bridge, alongside two further bridges, a new underpass and a much wider shared walking and cycle path between the Ketch roundabout and Powick roundabout, will vastly improve the walking and cycling routes in the area.

"This is in addition to the scheme providing a dual carriageway for traffic from the M5 to Powick roundabout."

The main span of the bridge was lifted into place in December 2020 and since then further works have taken place on the construction of approach ramps and wider connection to the existing highway network on both sides of the road.

The link on the southern side of the road has been installed by the developer, St Modwen, who are behind the commercial and residential development.

This is on a temporary alignment which will be revised once other work in the area has been completed.

Along with raising the footpaths in Power Park above the area that floods frequently, other works include the installation of a land drainage system, repositioning of the football pitch and landscaping.

Broomhall Way Footbridge is one of four crossings being installed as part of the wider Southern Link Road scheme.

They include Crookbarrow Way Footbridge and Hams Way Footbridge, which both opened last year and an underpass near the Ketch roundabout which will be ready for use towards the end of the final phase of the Southern Link Road scheme.

For more information about the Southern Link Road scheme visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/slr