Old Midland Metro bridge will cost £600,000 to demolish

A disused road bridge over the Midland Metro will be knocked down under plans which will cost £600,000.

The footbridge, which was laid on top of the road bridge, seen from the Crescent Metro stop at Bilston as a tram passes under it

The Arthur Street bridge in Bilston was closed to vehicles in 1998 during work to lay down the Metro lines.

A footbridge was placed over it two years later, in 2000, and remains open today.

But the old bridge, dating back to the late 1800s and visible from the Crescent Metro stop, still stands.

The official opening of the bridge in 2000

Wolverhampton Council has identified the project under its transportation capital programme. It needs to secure £600,000 to carry it out.

A spokesman for the council said: “There is not £600,000 set aside for this in the capital programme, this is the estimated cost of demolishing the old bridge, including the cost of specialist equipment.

"This work will be completed as and when funding becomes available.”

He added: “The council made the proactive decision to install the new bridge before the old bridge became beyond repair.

"The new bridge was installed as the old bridge was ageing having been built in the late 1800s. The old bridge structure will be demolished once funding has been identified.”

Bilston ward councillor Phil Page remembers the old bridge being used. He said: “When I was a lad it was a popular crossing from Wellington Road to Greencroft. You had many factories in the area back then and it would get quite busy.

“Since the footbridge has been put down I don’t think there is any need to bring back a vehicular bridge.”

After the bridge closed in 1998, a petition was raised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwara. It complained about problems faced by worshippers, particularly pedestrians, getting to the nearby Guru Nanak temple.

The cost of replacing the bridge was £800,000. The footbridge cost £155,000.

The council’s transportation capital programme, which includes the spend on Arthur Street bridge, was approved by the council’s cabinet this week.

John Roseblade, head of city transport at Wolverhampton Council, said: “We all know that resources are scarce so we do prioritise and focus our efforts to try and achieve maximum benefit.

“We must also continue to make the most of the investment opportunities to enhance the city’s road network as well as supporting businesses to help achieve our ultimate regeneration ambitions.”