Construction of £3m bridge starts

A drawing of the new bridge over the River Cam

Major work on the first river crossing in Cambridge for 36 years is set to start next month.

Work to clear the site of the foot and cycle bridge, which will span the River Cam between Chesterton and Riverside, has already begun.

The £3m bridge will have a walkway and an elevated cycleway as well as low-level lighting and seating.

The Riverside from St Batholomew's Court to the Museum of Technology will be closed to traffic from Monday.

The bridge, the first in the city since Elizabeth Way Bridge opened in 1971, is due to be completed in April 2008.

Mike Davies, of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "The build will be pre-fabricated in sections on the site before being put into place, so locals will be able to see this landmark structure take its shape.

"The road closure on Riverside is necessary to construct the approach ramps and to allow for the safety of the workforce and travelling public, but we want to reassure people that we will be consulting on the closure later on in the year."