Govia Thameslink u-turn on temporary footbridge during Mill Road Bridge closure
A temporary footbridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists during the closure of Mill Road bridge will no longer be provided.
The road bridge will be closed to vehicles for eight weeks from Monday (July 1) for crucial work being carried out to improve rail services.
Govia Thameslink Railways (GTR) says detailed design work has shown the footbridge would be too narrow in places and unsuitable for wheelchairs and people passing one another with bikes, prams and buggies.
It says an alternative solution has been found to knock down the section of bridge one half at a time across its width. This would allow contractors to maintain access across the existing pavement on one side of the bridge throughout the project.
However, there will still be occasions when, for safety reasons, there will be no pedestrian access.
The days and times when the bridge will be fully closed are Friday, July 5, to Monday, July 8, from 8.45am until 8.45pm each day, Thursday, July 11, to Saturday, July 13, from 8.45am until 8.45pm each day, Sunday, July 28, to Wednesday, July 31, from 8.45am until 8.45pm each day and Saturday, August 3, until Monday, August 5, from 8.45am until 8.45pm each day.
The £30m expansion of the railway depot requires modification of one arch of the bridge to allow an additional rail track to run underneath.
For the duration of the works the road will be closed to traffic. Stagecoach will be operating regular shuttle services from the bridge to key exchange points for onward connections.
This includes temporary changes to its Citi 2 (Addenbrooke’s) which will be diverted along Coldhams Lane and will serve both Brooks Road Sainsbury’s and Addenbrooke’s.
Those travelling to and from Mill Road will have connecting buses available at either the city centre or Brooks Road Sainsbury’s.
The 2A shuttle will operate between Mill Road Gwydir Street and Emmanuel Street while the 2B shuttle will operate between Mill Road Broadway and Sainsbury’s on Brooks Road.
GTR has also made arrangements with Cambridge Dial-a-Ride scheme to assist residents free-of-charge who would otherwise find it difficult to use the revised public transport provisions.
For motorists, the diversions are either via Gonville Place, Hills Road, Cherry Hinton Road and Perne Road, or via Brooks Road, Coldhams Lane, Newmarket Road and East Road.
Project manager Bethany Martinson said: “We’d remind people that, for eight weeks from July 1 to August 25 inclusive, Mill Road bridge has to close to vehicles. Diversionary routes will be in place and motorists should allow more time.”
GTR estimates that the scheme will be complete by August 26.