A SECTION of the River Ely will temporarily close later this month, so work to construct the Pont y Werin walkway can take place.
Main contractors Dean and Dyball have completed work on the structural piers, and the deck of the £4.6m bridge is being craned into place from March 24 to March 29.
During this period, the river will be closed around the bridge site.
Following installation of the walkway, that can be raised to allow boats to pass under it, the lifting span will remain closed for a period of four to six weeks whilst the hydraulic and electrical systems are commissioned.
Vessels with an air draught greater than five metres will be unable to pass under the bridge at this time.
Once the lifting span can be operated, it is anticipated that it will be lifted on a restricted basis until Pont-y-Werin is officially opened in June 2010.
Owners of high air draught vessels should note that the bridge site will be impassable in either direction from late March to early May.
Once complete, the 140m long ‘Bridge of the People’ will enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross between Penarth Marina and the International Sports Village at Cardiff Bay.
It will also link to a future cycle route through to Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.
