PREPARATORY work has started on a project to build a £2m foot and cycle bridge over the Severn in Worcester.

Engineers have started preparing the area for the bridge which will link the new Diglis development with Lower Wick, but residents will not see any meaningful action for a few weeks yet.

Once the bridge, which is part funded by the National Lottery and Worcestershire County Council, has been completed next summer it will become the third river crossing in the city.

A county council spokesman said: “The work has started as planned. There is nothing for people to see though - it’s all the preparatory side of things at this stage.”

We previously reported how the new 66-metre (217ft) long city bridge, largely made out of recycled materials and monitored by CCTV, will probably be ready for people to walk and ride across by July.

Its construction follows the success of the Sustrans Connect2 sustainable transport project which won a public vote in the People’s £50 million lottery contest in December 2007.

The bridge, which will have wheelchair access, will be at least 16 metres (52.5ft) above normal river levels and will comprise two-tapered square sections forming an ‘A’ frame with a 26.5 metre (87ft) painted steel tower.

Low-level lighting will illuminate the bridge between dusk and dawn while an information board will explain the significance of the Battle of Worcester site.