November 17th 2014

Derby City Council is pleased to confirm that London Road Bridge will re-open to traffic on Thursday 27th November 2014.

The works will not be complete on the re-opening date but will have reached a stage to allow free flowing, two way traffic on London Road.

Pedestrians will need to use the footpath on the southern side of the new bridge as works to reinstate the utilities in the northern footway will still be underway. The temporary footbridge will be removed from use the following weekend. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to access Litchurch Lane from London Road.

The Council would like to remind road users that the London Road and Litchurch Lane junction has been pedestrianized as part of the scheme and is now closed permanently to motor vehicles.

Councillor Asaf Afzal, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Streetpride, is pleased that a re-opening date has been agreed. He said: “This comes at an important time for both businesses and shoppers as we approach the Christmas shopping period. The new bridge restores a key route into the city and improves links to some of Derby’s flagship regeneration schemes, including the new Castleward urban village, a development of brand new two, three, and four bedroom homes in the heart of Derby.

“It was essential that we carried out work to the bridge, as the existing structure reached the end of its life-span and was at risk of being permanently closed to traffic if no action was taken. It had deteriorated to the point where a 7.5-tonne weight limit had to be enforced, so the full replacement of the bridge will remove this restriction and prevent the need for extensive disruptive repairs and further restrictions for many years to come.

“I’d like to thank businesses and road users for bearing with us throughout the duration of this very important project. I understand the frustration this has caused but I am pleased to see an opening date agreed. This allows us to move forward and continue to use this key route into the city, a new structure we can now rely on.”

The scheme to replace London Road Bridge has been funded jointly by the Department for Transport and Derby City Council and is being delivered as a joint venture between the Department for Transport, Derby City Council, Network Rail, and the contractor Morgan Sindall.