A NEW footbridge will be hoisted into place across the River Avon in Evesham on Sunday to allow work on Abbey Bridge to be sped up.

The new 30 tonne galvanised steel pedestrian crossing will be 30 metres east of Abbey Bridge and open to the public after the May day bank holiday. Cyclists will need to dismount whilst crossing the 36 metre long bridge.

It will take much of the day to construct and then install the structure meaning Waterside will be closed from the Abbey Bridge traffic lights to the hospital access for most of Sunday.

The south pier will be placed using a 35 tonne crane and the pier on the north bank and to position the bridge a 500 tonne crane will be set up on Waterside Road. It is thought this will happen at around 7pm.

Peter Blake, Worcestershire County Council's Head of Integrated Transport, said: "The temporary pedestrian bridge will be installed this Sunday, which will help speed up the project by allowing the workforce to undertake work on both sides of Abbey Bridge.

"Waterside will be closed from the Abbey Bridge traffic lights to the hospital access for most of the day on Sunday whilst the pedestrian bridge is put in place.

"The temporary bridge will arrive early on Sunday morning in sections, will be constructed on Waterside during the day, and it is anticipated that the two-metre wide structure will then be winched into place by a crane at around 7pm on the same day.

"We are doing everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum during the essential replacement work, which is vital in securing the long-term future of the town."