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Work on replacing Alma Bridge to start

  • by JW

Last November, plans to replace the crumbling Alma Bridge were agreed to:

Plans for £750,000 Devon footbridge approved

 

The designs had been put out to consultation earlier:

New bridge for the Ham

 

It has now been confirmed that work will begin at the end of the month, as reported in the Herald:

 

New footbridge will replace historic structure over the River Sid

A new footbridge spanning 20 metres over the River Sid will be built in Sidmouth this month in place of an existing historic structure.

The construction of the new footbridge, which will replace Alma Bridge, will get under way this month by Mac Plant Construction, which has been appointed by Devon County Council.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member with responsibility for bridges and County Councillor for Sidmouth, said: “It’s great news for the town that this scheme will be getting under way at the end of August. We have always been committed to providing a new bridge at this end of the town, and while it is slightly further inland, it still ensures that the South West Coast Path, which provides significant economic benefit to the town, will remain close to the seafront. Extensive consultation has gone into developing the design of the new bridge which I’m sure will be well used and will be a fitting replacement for Alma Bridge.”

The scheme is expected to be completed in Spring 2020, weather permitting. This will ensure the adjacent Ham recreational ground is open and in use for the summer season and Folk Festival.

New footbridge will replace historic structure over the River Sid

 

For more comment, see:

Futures Forum: Latest plans for Alma Bridge passed by County Council > “the proposal provides a high-quality link”

Futures Forum: Latest plans for Alma Bridge passed by County Council > “The bridge will be very welcome.”

Futures Forum: Design of new Alma Bridge: “While some decribed it as ‘hideous’ and ‘ugly’, others said it was ‘impressive’ and the town was ‘very lucky’ to have secured funding.”

Futures Forum: Design of new Alma Bridge released >>> “the proposal isn’t the prettiest footbridge but the engineer is literally up against a hard place, ie a steep sided cliff face”

Futures Forum: “The Ham needs something rather more special: the proposed new Alma Bridge is functional but undistinctive”

Futures Forum: The ‘monstrous inappropriateness’ of the new Alma Bridge design >>> >>> ‘The position cries out for delicate curves not flint like hard slabs.’