A Bournemouth bridge is expected to be closed until the end of the year, according to the council.

BCP Council will be installing a new cycle lane and pedestrian bridge alongside the existing bridge in Glenferness Avenue, Bournemouth, this weekend.

The road closure, which sees drivers diverted via Alyth Road and Elgyn Road, is expected to remain in place until late December. 

Two four-metre-wide, 31-metre-long prefabricated green bridges will be installed over the railway line.

Bournemouth Echo:

Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy at BCP Council, said: “Installing these bridges is a significant piece of engineering work.

“They will fix a longstanding barrier to local journeys for people walking, cycling and wheeling across the railway line on Glenferness Avenue, providing a completely separate and safe route away from the busy, narrow road bridge on both sides of the road.  

Read more: Cycle lane construction in Glenferness Avenue to last until September

“I look forward to the project being completed and people being able to walk, wheel or cycle across the new bridges on their way to work, school or leisure destinations.  

“It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to reducing road congestion and enabling active, sustainable travel.” 

BCP Council said the work has been “meticulously planned hour by hour” and will be overseen by a project team from BCP Council, supporting contractors and Network Rail.

Bournemouth Echo:

Cars ignoring temporary traffic lights during the project were previously blamed on the route closure, according to Cllr Hadley. 

Temporary traffic lights were supposed to remain on Glenferness Avenue by the bridge near East Avenue until September 4 before a full road closure to create the new cycle lane bridge. 

However, shortly after they were installed in June, motorists – seemingly keen to skip the long traffic jams – ignored the temporary traffic lights. 

Cllr Hadley added: “Unfortunately, we had to close the road bridge earlier than planned as some drivers were ignoring both the initial two-way temporary traffic lights and subsequent one-way road closure,” he said. 

“For the safety of both the public and our workforce, a full road closure was implemented to ensure the preparatory work for the bridge installation could be completed.”