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New bridge sees 50,000 users in first three months

Gavin Kermack
BBC News, West Midlands
Worcestershire County Council A long bridge with railings on either side crosses a river on a bright day. A person is crossing the bridge on foot.Worcestershire County Council
Kepax Bridge opened in December at a cost of £16m

A new walking and cycling bridge over the River Severn has been used by nearly 50,000 people in the three months since it opened, according to Worcestershire County Council.

The Kepax Bridge in Worcester, which opened in December at a cost of £16m, connects Gheluvelt Park to St John's.

The local authority said it was averaging more than 600 crossings per day and had become an important part of the city's transport network.

Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The bridge is not only providing an important new link for the city but also helping to reduce road traffic and encourage sustainable travel."

Worcestershire County Councillor Marc Bayliss, a man with short grey hair and glasses, smiles at the camera in a shot taken outside. He is wearing a light blue shirt and a dark blue tie under a dark blue coat.
Councillor Marc Bayliss said the bridge was helping to encourage sustainable travel

The council said the bridge was designed to encourage sustainable and healthy travel for residents and visitors, as well as ease congestion.

Jane Roberts, from Worcester Snoezelen, a charity that supports people with disabilities, said it was helping the service to expand.

"The new Kepax Bridge provides greater accessibility for people with physical differences to access parts of Worcester that previously have not been accessible," said Ms Roberts. "It has also enabled our staff members to cycle to work.

"This bridge is a fantastic way for the people we care for to enjoy the outdoors, get the physical exercise they need, and experience the positive effects of nature in a safe, inclusive way."

Worcestershire County Council A closer shot of the above bridge, showing the bridge as it curves over the river. Several people are walking across it.Worcestershire County Council
The bridge was intended to reduce traffic by making walking and cycling more convenient

The project has previously been criticised because one side of the bridge leads to a muddy track, which one user described at the beginning of the year as "impassable".

But the council said the track was not a defined public right of way and did not fall under the scope of the project.

"Hearing how [the bridge] is benefiting organisations like Worcester Snoezelen is great news," said Bayliss. "This is exactly why we invested in this project - to create a more inclusive and accessible city for everyone."

Later this month the charity is due to hold a fundraising walk, which will cross the new bridge.

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