July update – Otley Bridge footway

Existing footway demolition works

We continue to thank everyone in the community for adapting to the use of the temporary footbridge. Demolition work has safely taken place on the existing cantilevered footway on Otley Bridge.

The recent night-time closures of Otley Bridge were carried out to lift the last span of beams, which completes the demolition phase of works.

In the coming weeks, we expect some noisy work as hydro-demolition will be used to remove the deteriorated concrete from the footway cantilevers. This process will be followed by adding reinforcement and re-casting concrete around the cantilevers. To facilitate these works, some lane closures during nights will be necessary in August and September. The dates will be confirmed nearer the time.

Working with the community

The project team with partners Balfour Beatty are undertaking a variety of social impact initiatives to engage and support the local community. Key activities include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) workshops in local schools, where engineers have shared their personal insights into civil engineering and provide an overview of the project. The first event took place at St Joseph Catholic Primary School.

The Balfour team hosted three one-hour workshops with 88 enthusiastic pupils across Years three, four and six. The students were engaged and brimming with curiosity about the world of construction. At one point, there was a sea of hands, with lots of insightful questions directed at the team about the project in their community.

The pupils provided feedback about the workshop and said: “I really liked that we got to make towers out of Lego and I really enjoyed answering the questions especially about the different roles in construction.” And another said: “I liked learning about the different types of construction because it opened my eyes to how much planning and skill goes into building the world around us. I want to work in construction when I am older.”

The teacher said: “Our pupils were fully engaged and had a brilliant time with hands-on activities. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring STEM learning to life and spark curiosity about the built environment. Thank you to the Balfour Beatty team for helping us explore how construction shapes the world around us and inspiring the next generation of engineers, designers, and problem-solvers!"

Thanks to St Joseph Catholic Primary School teachers and pupils for hosting and engaging in an interactive fun session.