A new road bridge over the River Trent will “no doubt feature in a long list of possible schemes”, the newly-created East Midlands Combined County Authority says.
Nottingham is currently served by Lady Bay Bridge, Clifton Bridge and Trent Bridge, but politicians have argued a fourth road bridge would help further relieve traffic jams across the city and beyond.
A crossing at Trent Basin was recently given planning approval by Nottingham City Council, but it will only cater for cyclists and pedestrians.
A debate over a new road crossing was held in 2022 in parliament, with the issue becoming particularly prominent following the closure of Clifton Bridge in 2020 during structural problems.
Some lanes on the bridge were closed for more than 20 months while repair work took place, and initial closures made Nottingham one of the world’s most congested cities at the time.
Preliminary studies have already been conducted. Engineering firm AECOM prepared a desktop study to consider how feasible a crossing at Colwick would be back in 2016.
Ms Ward was elected to the position of Mayor at the start of May, and she will now oversee the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
The role means the region, which includes Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, will be given £1.14bn in funding over the next 30 years – on top of more powers devolved from Whitehall.
Additionally, Ms Ward and EMCCA will be given a transport investment fund of £1.5bn to open up opportunities for improvements following years of “underinvestment”.
Ms Ward was not available for comment, however a spokesperson for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “One of the early priorities for the new Combined County Authority is to develop a comprehensive plan for rail, bus, road and active travel for our region, alongside a programme of investment that delivers a transformational transport network for our residents, businesses and visitors.
“Ideas such as new road crossings of the Trent will no doubt feature in a long list of possible schemes that will need a great deal of technical assessment and evaluation as part of this process.
“Once the Mayor and Combined County Authority are satisfied that this process has been followed, we will be in a position to comment on specific schemes and proposals.”
Earlier this week, Gedling’s MP, Tom Randall wrote to the East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward (Lab) to ask that new transport funding is used to forward the concept.
“The next phase of this project involves commissioning a strategic outline business case, which will cost a low six-figure sum, to look deeper into the matter,” Mr Randall said in his letter sent on May 21.
“Many have written to me about the prospect of a fourth Trent crossing to the east of the city. I believe the case for a new crossing was strengthened after the partial closure of Clifton Bridge in 2020 that brought gridlock to the city and beyond.
“My own view is that a new crossing at Colwick would be a good place to help fill the current gap between Lady Bay Bridge and Gunthorpe Bridge.”
The letter goes on to say it would relieve traffic pressure, particularly in Netherfield, Colwick and Burton Joyce, while also stimulating growth and better access to jobs in Gedling.
Cars, cars, CARS!!!
I bet all the 50+ year olds who refuse to abandon their petrol cars and are climate crisis deniers will LOVE this! Such backwards thinking.
How do we get people out of their fossil fuel machines reliant on 100-year old technology? I know, build MORE roads.
Of course it doesn’t matter if the planet gets destroyed as they’ll be the ones going ‘I’ll be dead by then’. Well that’s ALRIGHT Then.
I blame the baby boomers for all our troubles. Deny the planet is in trouble, hate immigration (although DIFFERENT when Brits move abroad and don;t speak the language – WE’RE BRITISH!) and want MORE petrol cars and MORE roads. Sodf the environment, unless it’s houses in the field behind them.
There is no “climate crisis”.
There is mass hysteria.
@Top Hat
Even if we all took to bikes, that doesn’t resolve the issue of goods. To deliver goods to Netherfield from any of the large central hubs scattered up & down the M1, one has to traverse the rabit warren that are Nottingham roads to get there, churning them up in the process. A fourth bridge at Colwick suddenly makes the A46 or A453/A52 option so much more viable, scouting around the inner city rather than straight through.
Studies have demonstrated that building more roads just encourages more use, there’s no denying that. But HGV’s are going to be one of the last types of transport to move to clean energy because there simply is no viable option right now. Giving them the shortest/quickest route to their destination can and will cut emissions.
Also, our public transport system is dire. That’s why we’re addicted to cars. It takes me nine minutes to pick my daughter up from school using my (BEV) car. I would have to walk five minutes, take a bus into the city, and another out to achieve the same thing. Cars aren’t going anywhere any time soon because there are absolutely no alternatives to their convenience.