January 27, 2020 11.46 am This story is over 50 months old

£10m Lincoln transport hub footbridge still “a priority”

The bridge was originally proposed as part of the hub plans in 2015
An artist's impression of the new footbridge revealed in 2015.

Plans for a new footbridge linking Lincoln’s transport hub into Sincil Bank are likely to cost around £10 million, according to council bosses.

Plans for a new footbridge at the city’s railway station were first included in the original plans for the hub in 2015.

The aim was to replace the existing pedestrian bridge and the station’s platform bridge with one single structure. It would take pedestrians from St Mary’s Street, over the railway, to the Tentercroft Street car park.

However, when updated proposals were given the go ahead in 2016, the footbridge was pushed back to a “second phase”.

The current footbridge over the railway would be pulled down in the second phase of the project. Photo: The Lincolnite

The £30 million Transport Hub’s first section, including a new bus station and multi-storey car park opened in January 2018.

Bosses at City of Lincoln say the footbridge “is a priority for us” adding it would provide “improved access to and from the city centre”.

“Now that the direct train services to London have begun, the project has moved up our priority list,” said Kate Ellis, Director of Major Developments.

“We want to ensure residents and visitors have the best experience possible when using the train station.

The revised plans for the Lincoln Transport Hub were approved in 2016 and saw the bridge pushed back, while the bus station was moved across the road.

“It is likely the new footbridge would cost in the region of £10million, which is a significant amount of funding to obtain.

“However, given the future role of rail in sustainable travel we believe this would be money well spent.”

Lincolnshire County Council is set to publish a transport strategy for the city later this year, and it bosses hope that government stability, as well as a new train franchise operator will help improve access to funding in the coming years.

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