Flood-wrecked bridge to re-open

The Newbiggin footbridge across the River Petteril, near Carlisle, was badly damaged after being hit by a tree swept along in the swollen river.

Plans to rebuild the original two arch masonry bridge were abandoned in favour of a steel and concrete structure.

Thousands of properties were damaged and thousands of people left homeless in the floods in January 2005.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: "The steel parts have be made of special weathering steel like that used in the Angel of the North sculpture.

"This means it will colour and blend in with the bridge abutments which have been made out of masonry salvaged from the original bridge."

The bridge was lost only two years after the county council had spent tens of thousands of pounds refurbishing the bridge and improving a nearby picnic area and car park.

An official opening ceremony is due to take place on 14 February.

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