Walton Bridge takes shape

The area has been served for many years by two bridges that were intended to be temporary links. A road bridge was built in the 1950s as a replacement for a war-damaged structure. It now caters purely for pedestrians and cyclists, while another temporary bridge that opened in 1999 carries road traffic.

The contract for the new bridge was originally awarded by Surrey County Council in 2005 but the project has been the subject of two public inquiries and was put on hold during a government spending review.

Contractor Costain started detailed design for the final time in 2011, with some advance works getting underway the same year and actual construction starting in January 2012.

The bridge has a thrust arch design, which is similar to a bowstring arch but instead of using the deck to prevent the ends of the arch spreading, it relies on the foundations instead.

The arches are now in place. When complete, the bridge will have a clear span of 90 metres. Including link spans, the length is 148 metres.

Technical challenges included poor ground conditions on the Walton-on-Thames side of the river, said project manager Andy Bannister. Costain will build a separate viaduct over a flood plain to link up with the bridge itself. Other factors to be negotiated include the Thames Pathway, which goes through the site.

The bridge is scheduled to be handed over this summer. The old bridges will then be demolished, with final tie-in works and landscaping to be completed in spring 2014.

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