A £450,000 footbridge which will link Brownhills town centre to Clayhanger is to be installed tomorrow.

British Waterways will be using a crane capable of lifting 120 tonnes to lower into place the main section of the canal bridge and will replace the outdated 40-year-old structure.

The old bridge is currently in place over the Wyrley and Essington canal near Pier Street.

The 19-metre long piece of the bridge, which weighs 12 tonnes, is set to be put into place around 10am and will mean Silver Street will be closed to through traffic.

The bridge, which will provide a walkway to Clayhanger Common from the main High Street, will be ready for use by the end of July, at which point the existing bridge will be removed.

John Harris, British Waterways economic and social development officer, said he was delighted to be working with Walsall Council on a scheme to boost Brownhills.

He said: “It’s the latest stage in a programme of investment works we have been involved with in the area and we are sure people will take full advantage of it.”

The old bridge has been unsuitable for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs and the new structure has been designed to minimise impact on the environment.

The bridge has been manufactured in sections after wide consultation with a number of community groups including the Brownhills Canal Group and the Brownhills and Aldridge Local Neighbourhood Partnership.

Most of the funding is from the European Regional Development Fund with a £106,000 contribution from Walsall Council.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are delighted to be moving forward with such an important scheme to improve Brownhills.

By Craig Hughes