New river bridge opens to boost connectivity

A new bridge that will spare residents a half-a-mile walk across a canal in Long Eaton has officially opened.

The new structure across the Erewash Canal is part of the government's £25m Town Deal across the borough.

The footbridge and cycleway - which opened on Thursday - is situated close to Bennett Street and Canal Street and cost £2m. It now connects a new-build housing estate which sits on a former industrial plot.

Erewash Borough Council leader, councillor James Dawson said the new bridge will be a "tremendous time-saver" for people in the area.

Work on a larger second footbridge is also under way over the canal in Broad Street.

Work on this bridge - featuring a suspension arch and a balustrade referencing Long Eaton's lace-making industry with a wedding pattern motif - is expected to be completed in August.

As well as the bridge, the project also includes a waterside terrace giving access to the canal and creating a public events space.

Dawson added: "While the Broad Street bridge is replacing a structure that was nearing the end of its lifespan, the crossing at Britannia Mills has been built where no bridge stood before. It will be a tremendous time-saver for local people."

Businessman Richard Ledger, who chairs the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: "There are more than 100 new affordable homes at Britannia Mills, which was the site of an old lace-making complex.

"The now thriving community there will be overjoyed to make use of this new bridge near Canal Street. It halves the previous mile-long distance between canal crossings."

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