The installation of the bridge over Kelsey Park Lake will start next month, in the middle of February, with final construction work continuing away from the park.
When the bridge installation and preparation work in the park gets underway in the park, next week, from 2 February, visitors are being advised that access near the bridge will be restricted. Access to the park through the Wickham Road entrance will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles for approximately six weeks. Access via the Stone Avenue entrance will also be restricted during this period.
The shortest route to the café and play area will be via the Manor Way park entrance, with the actual bridge installation starting in the second week of February. Advisory maps (PDF - 454.67 KB) are fixed on the entrances to the park and visitors are asked to take note.
Councillor Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment said:
“I am delighted that very soon we will see the bridge installed, which follows extensive preparation and planning work. The council has invested substantially in our much loved Kelsey Park which practically demonstrates the council's ongoing commitment, especially at a time when contextually the council is facing severe financial challenges. A big thank you to visitors of the park and especially the Friends of Kelsey Park for their ongoing patience and support at this time.”
A track way will be installed next week, which will protect the ground and mark the route for the machinery. The news follows tree and coppicing work in November along with the key survey work ahead of the bridge installation.
Land and Water, the contractor who successfully completed desilting work in March this year, has been appointed to take forward the work, with the £567k project carefully planned and phased to ensure minimal disruption to park visitors. The confirmation of the bridge renewal work means that over £2.5 million will have been invested in the park in the last 2 years, over and above routine maintenance, demonstrating the council’s ongoing commitment to invest in parks in the borough.
The construction follows earlier revised design work which confirmed that the existing bridge abutments were able to be reused, without compromising the structural integrity of the bridge and helping to minimise costs and keep the project within budget.
