September 1, 2016
Work is continuing apace on a new bridge connecting Castle Park with the new Finzel’s Reach development – with two enormous columns now rising up out of the Floating Harbour waiting to take the weight of the new crossing.
The developers behind the scheme are also soon to start installing a Toucan pedestrian crossing at the end of Old Temple Street. This will provide a safe crossing route over Counterslip next to Bridgewater House.
Bath Street has been recently repaved using the existing cobbles where possible, and construction work on the site itself is ongoing.
But it’s the dramatic preparation work on the new bridge that is currently turning heads in Castle Park.
The bridge was supposed to have been built almost a decade ago but had to be put on hold as a result of the recession.
Work started on putting the foundations in place for the bridge at the beginning of July and there has also been preparation work on either side of the Floating Harbour.
The original plans for the footbridge were for an ambitious steel loop called a Mobius – which is a never ending spiral shape.
Those plans have been scaled down but the bridge will still be an eye-catching addition to Castle Park and the city centre.
Bill Pugh, contracts manager at Andrew Scott, said the shared pedestrian and cycle bridge will link the mixed use development with Castle Park and Cabot Circus “without the need for stairs or lifts making it accessible for all”.
It is also hoped that the new bridge will encourage more people to use the new shops and bars planned for the Finzles Reach area.
The Finzels Reach development on the former Courage Brewery site was halted at the height of the recession but was relaunched several years ago.