New footpath opens beneath Bennerley Viaduct

The Iron Giant is getting a new visitor centre and access ramp but the work meant some of the area was left inaccessible

A new footpath has opened so visitors to a Victorian viaduct can once again enjoy the countryside underneath it.

The former Bennerley Viaduct railway bridge, known as the Iron Giant, straddles the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border and reopened in 2022 after being closed for 54 years.

Due to work to build a new visitor centre and access ramp at the Awsworth side of the crossing and the closure of a condemned concrete footbridge over the River Erewash at the Ilkeston end, people have been unable to access the area since last autumn.

But the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct has created a new temporary path to open up access until the work is completed.

Peter Collins, operations director at the charity, said the temporary access to the area in the shadow of the 1,410ft (429.8m) platform was going to be kept open as much as possible.

The new temporary path has opened up the site to visitors despite construction work continuing

He said: "For us it's a community asset. We're keen for people to see the structures of the viaduct and how it was constructed as well as the amazing wildlife around the site.

"As part of the construction work we had to go over the sides of where this pathway was running.

"We've been able to open the access to this pathway on a temporary basis so people can access underneath the viaduct, although we're keen for people to bear with us if construction work means the access is closed off."

'Looking forward'

Full access will be restored once the visitor centre and eastern ramp for the Grade-II* listed viaduct are open.

The friends group, which celebrates 10 years since forming in June, hopes both will be completed by the summer.

Mr Collins added: "Construction is going really well, we're looking forward to opening as soon as we can."

In addition, Erewash Borough Council is considering plans for a replacement footbridge, which the charity hopes will be approved and built by the end of 2025.