THE new Woodsgate Park Bridge and Chapel Path underpass have opened to pedestrians, as work on the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road continues.

“These projects represent significant milestones for the scheme and show how well the work is progressing,” said Bob Pape, East Sussex County Council’s Project Manager for the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road.

“Residents I have spoken to are very happy about these new facilities and I am grateful to everyone who has been involved with the project for their hard work.

“We appreciate the construction has caused some temporary inconvenience for some residents and businesses, and we are grateful for their co-operation and support.”

The Chapel Path underpass runs under the new link road providing a safe crossing point for pedestrians. It links the old Bancroft Path and Chapel Path at the west side of the underpass, and opens onto London Road where there is seating and bus stops.

The underpass constructed from reinforced concrete and has lights inside.

An underpass was chosen rather than a surface crossing because it is safer for children who will be the main users of the underpass. A surface crossing would also have required traffic lights, which would slow the vehicle flow and a footbridge, with the necessary disabled access, would have meant a large structure across the road.

Woodsgate Park Bridge is an entirely new construction, although the west abutment of the old structure has been retained to keep the railway character of the bridge. The east abutment has been constructed in a similarly sympathetic style. It consists of a single span deck made from steel beams and reinforced concrete lined with matching brickwork.

The existing bridge, which spanned the old South Eastern and Chatham Railway line between Sidley and Bexhill West stations, was demolished because it was too low and narrow underneath to allow traffic to flow along the new road.