A multi-million-pound bridge which connects two counties is set to open within days, it has been announced.
The newly constructed Zouch Bridge will open to traffic and buses on Monday, 6 July. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders are already able to use it.
The old bridge, which carries part of the A6006 over the River Soar, provides an important link between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and has been closed for 18 weeks.
However, the road will reopen to traffic next week and reconnect the villages of Hathern in Charnwood and Zouch in Rushcliffe, after work began in July 2024.
Over the coming six weeks, the old Zouch Bridge, built in 1930, will be demolished and dismantled after deteriorating for many years.
Mike Barnett, Assistant Director of Highways and Transport at Leicestershire County Council, said that much of the construction was a collaborative effort between the council and the contractor, Eric Wright Civil Engineering.
“We’ve had a weight restriction on that bridge for a number of years, and it’s reaching the end of its serviceable life.
“The new bridge has a 120-year design life, and as soon as the new one is open, we will be demolishing the old bridge, and six weeks from now, the bridge will be taken down.”
Mr Barnett said that, due to high-voltage cables being situated above the bridge, much of it had to be built before being winched across part of the River Soar.
Engineers and builders then bolted the rest of the bridge together before winching it further to its final location.
He added: “It’s not every day you build a new bridge, and it’s not something you do every day. It’s very much a team effort to deliver work such as this.”
Reform leader of Leicestershire County Council, Dan Harrison, said: “It’s wonderful to see the new bridge open and provide something that will serve the area well for many years to come.
“As well as improving a key route, the project has supported local jobs, businesses and young people, creating a positive legacy beyond the bridge itself.
“The A6006 is a vital link, connecting people to the airport and freeport developments, and we’ve worked hard to deliver a high-quality, future-ready bridge while keeping disruption to a minimum by building it alongside the existing structure.”
The full A6006 route between the A6 in Leicestershire and the A60 in Nottinghamshire will reopen once Network Rail completes its work at nearby Kirk Hill Bridge, which is expected later in July.
The county council has said that through traffic and HGVs will need to continue using the signed diversion routes.
By Chris Harper, Local Democracy Reporter