A councillor is calling for a feasibility study into a new road bridge across the River Trent at Colwick.
Cllr Mike Adams, who represents Carlton East on Nottinghamshire County Council, has this week written to new East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, asking for funding towards the proposed study into a fourth Trent crossing
The plea comes as the Mayor and her new East Midlands Combined Authority begin looking at large transport projects to invest in across the region.
In the letter Cllr Adams wrote: “I have been campaigning for this bridge for many years on behalf of my constituents in Colwick, Netherfield, Gedling, Stoke Bardolph, Rivendell and Burton Joyce who have long suffered from congestion and inadequate transport links.
“Given your position as Mayor of the East Midlands with powers over transport and hundreds of millions of pounds allocated for infrastructure improvements I am requesting your support in funding a feasibility study for this critical project.”
He said the A612 has seen a 12.5% rise in traffic over the year, placing an additional strain on an already congested route that is affecting commuters and also resulting in HGVs instead journeying nearby villages to avoid traffic.
He added: “Investing in a feasibility study would be a crucial first step in addressing these growing challenges and ensuring that our transport network remains fit for purpose for years to come.”
Cllr Adams had backed a previous call for a bridge from former Gedling MP Tom Randall.
Mr Randall also wrote to the Mayor last year saying it was a ‘transport priority’ for the area.
Calls for a new bridge have also been backed by Cllr John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, who said the local authority has been fighting to bring another bridge to serve motorists for years.
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Back in 2023, he said: “This bridge will make things a lot better because there will be a freer movement of vehicles, especially as we move to electric and more energy efficient vehicles
“Traffic is currently jammed on Trent Bridge and is not much fun. It will be a massive benefit to Gedling and Newark and Sherwood. We have done two feasibility studies that show it is feasible to build it.
“The figure would be about £50m. The best place to put it would be the back of Victoria Park.
“It would also create an easier route to places like Bingham and Holme Pierrepont. It is a win, win. We need this bridge for our infrastructure and local economy.”
The traffic is often backed up to saxondale island – with cars stood still on the roundabout- with a massive new housing estate being built in Radcliffe it’s obviously going to be 20 times worse -we desperately need another river crossing!
Far to sensible to ever happen!
You can’t even look after the bridges & roads we’ve already got, never mind adding more. More waste of money.
Another river crossing is definitely required and Colwick being between Gunthorpe Bridge and Lady Bay is a good location. I personally never would have agreed to the new foot bridge about to be built, literally around the corner from an existing bridge, what a waste of money that is!!