Bridge over River Trent lifted into place by Europe's tallest crane after four-year wait

A 175-tonne pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent has finally been lifted into place – just over four years to the day the plans were first revealed.

The Waterside Bridge was first unveiled in November 2021, but has faced delays and rising costs.

It will link Trent Basin, off Daleside Road in the city boundary, to the south bank of the river close to the Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, in Rushcliffe borough.

The £18m project, which is being funded by the Government’s Transforming Cities fund, was originally expected to cost just over £9m.

Nottingham City Council approved the plans itself in April 2024, while Rushcliffe Borough Council then gave them the green light in June of the same year.

The plans required approval from both authorities because the bridge sits in both administrative areas.

Despite the setbacks, the 87 metre-long bridge structure was lifted into place over the river by what the city council has called “the biggest crane in Europe” – the CC6800 crawler crane – at around 11am on Monday (November 10).

Cllr Linda Woodings (Lab), executive member for regional development, growth and transport for Nottingham City Council, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The budget did go up slightly because on the public consultation people said make [the bridge] four metres wide, not 3.5m, and obviously supplies have gone up in price since then.

“But the £18m budget is confirmed, it is coming in on budget.”

The bridge is expected to open to the public in around June 2026, once work on the surrounding areas – including landscaping – is completed.

A smaller bridge over Trent Basin must also be lifted into place as part of the scheme. It is understood this structure will be in place by February next year.

It will indicate that the final stages of the entire project have been reached.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for leisure and wellbeing, ICT and member development, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, added: “It is good to see another major step towards the opening of the bridge that will create more connectivity for residents on both sides of the river for further opportunities to travel in a more sustainable way. 

“Creating this new link for cyclists and pedestrians will create easier access to nearby open spaces in Lady Bay and West Bridgford and our local sports grounds and leisure facilities, encouraging more people to make lower carbon journeys.” 

Balfour Beatty is the primary contractor behind the project, but the bridge structure itself was constructed in Hucknall by Briton Fabricators, which was established in the city in 1973.

The smaller bridge structure was also constructed by Briton Fabricators.

Nottingham-based civil engineering firm J McCann & Co has also been working on the groundwork for the project using local workers.