New park bridge replaced ahead of schedule

The new bridge has been completed, along with other work around the town

A project to replace a footbridge in a popular park has finished ahead of schedule.

The bridge in Kings Meadow in Reading is more than twice the previous bridge's width, measuring in at 4.5m (14.8ft).

The old bridge, which was 2m (6.6ft) wide, was changed as part of a £4m two-year plan for bridges and other structures around the town.

The new bridge was scheduled to be finished by 30 August but has already opened.

The new bridge is more than twice as wide as the old one

Ahead of the replacement, the council said the new bridge would be "much more robust" and made of a glass fibre-reinforced polymer.

A concrete retaining wall has been built on the south-west corner of the bridge.

In June, Reading Borough Council's highways and traffic services manager Sam Shean said the footbridge was a "key link in [the town's] pedestrian and cycle network".

Other planned projects include refurbishing Orbit Footbridge behind Queen's Road car park, High Bridge in Duke Street and strengthening sections of Kennetside retaining wall.