Over Dover Bridge - related work begins

A new bridge is to be built for Cycling City across Dovercourt Open Space, creating the next section of the Northern route which will link the Abbey Wood to Bristol City Centre.

Necessary treeworks begin on Monday prior to the nesting season, and construction of Over Dover Bridge is expected to begin in the Autumn.

Phase one of the Northern Route - known as the St Werburghs Link - was completed in 2009. It incorporates a new community space at Station Road and solar lighting which will be in place by the end of March.

For phase two:

• Muller Road Crossing is currently under construction and will also be completed by end of March 2010.
• A traffic calming scheme for Constable Road is expected in Summer 2010
• Construction of Over Dover bridge at Dovercourt open space will begin in the Autumn

Councillor Jon Rogers, Bristol's Executive Member for Transport and Sustainability, said: "The Northern Route will open up the north east of the city for cycling commuters which has the potential to get a lot of cars off the road and ease congestion for all. As an existing example - the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path is used by 1500 commuters a day. If these cyclists decided to get OFF their bikes, its easy to imagine how many extra cars that would mean on surrounding roads."

The tree works will involve the removal of one mature tree, and 26 young and middle- aged trees. None are the subject of Tree Preservation Orders. They will be replaced by 40 new trees in a number of native varieties as part of a neighbourhood replanting programme in the Autumn, though not all of these will be at Dovercourt Open Space.

Councillor Rogers said: "It is a hard decision to remove any trees and we dont allow tree work of any sort unless it is absolutely necessary - either for good forest management or because an important development requires it."

More tree news soon as the Greater Bristol Bus Network rolls out. The £70 million scheme across the four local authorities in the West of England Partnership is expected to include a £550,000 budget for planting of street trees along the routes.

Councillor Rogers said: "The news will be welcomed by all residents who are keen to keep Bristol streets green and pleasant by protecting and replacing street trees."