When the route now used for the Downs Link was a railway line a bridge once crossed the A281. Now that a bridge is needed again to make the crossing safe for walkers, cyclists and horse riders we ask: what would a modern bridge look like?
Although the Victorian brick bridge was demolished in 1967 the embankments on either side of the road have largely been retained. This would mean any new bridge would only need to span the road, although the embankments may need raising slightly to provide sufficient room for lorries to safely pass underneath.
The precise details have yet to be decided but it would most likely be a steel structure, constructed off-site and then craned into position.
Examples of similar bridges can be found across the UK. One such example is the cycle bridge across the A39 at Roundswell near Barnstaple in Devon. This is higher than needed on the Downs Link but shows one possible type of construction.
