By Green light for footbridge build to start
GRIMSBY’S new Garth Lane footbridge will start to take shape in December as detailed work begins on its construction.
With delivery and installation due in the spring, planning permission has now been passed by North East Lincolnshire Council, giving the green light for materials to be ordered and the build to start.
Once installed it will provide safer passage across the River Freshney from the town centre to Fisherman’s Wharf for pedestrians, with new CCTV and lighting.
As reported, the old bridge has now been removed with pedestrian diversions via Alexandra Road in place until next spring, when the new 5m-wide structure is due to be installed.
The bridge is being designed and installed by North Yorkshire specialists SH Structures, whose projects include the International Bomber Command Spire in Lincoln and Hull’s new Princess Quay Footbridge.
The new bridge seeks to reflect a little of the area’s maritime heritage with its mast-like feature depicting ships’ rigging.
It has also been designed to incorporate the hanging of artwork, or to look equally as good without – the drawing shows this feature, where the words ‘Explore Grimsby Heritage’ are.
Tim Burton of SH Structures confirmed that the primary design work had now been completed with final works to the ‘masts/rigging’ underway and fabrication due to start before Christmas.
He explained how a 3d model of the bridge had been developed which would be used to produce fabrication drawings to guide the platers and welders fabricating the structure.
All the fabrication work takes place at the firm’s base in Sherburn-in-Elmet. Once complete, protective treatment and paint would be applied in Scunthorpe before transportation to Grimsby for lifting into position using a large mobile crane, he said.
Central to the Grimsby HAZ, (Heritage Action Zone), further works in the £3.5m Garth Lane scheme include new tiered seating/walkway down to the riverside, new planting and landscaping, wildflower areas, and seating including fish benches that have been carved using wood from the felled willow tree.
Picture: OPS Structural Engineering, North East Lincolnshire Council website
