New CGI of what the Aquadrome bridge will look like has been released

The picture gives a sense of how wide the bridge will be and how it will fit in the Rickmansworth Aquadrome as both a nature reserve and a place to visit for leisure and recreational activities.

Using funds from a charge on developers, the council plans to remove the old pedestrian bridge – at the Riverside Drive entrance to the 41-hectare Local Nature Reserve – with a new bridge that will be stronger and wider for families and cyclists to continue to access the much-loved space for generations to come.

Three Rivers District Council appointed award-winning specialist bridge contractor Beaver Bridges Ltd to deliver the full turnkey manufacture, construction and installation of the new deep red Splayed Arch Active Travel Bridge to replace the existing bridge at Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

The new bridge – which received planning permission last year - is designed to be 48.6m in length and 3m wide – double in width than the old bridge to allow both pedestrians and cyclists to pass each other safely and encourage active travel.

Cllr Chris Lloyd, Three Rivers District Council’s Lead Member for Leisure, said: “Replacing the old bridge forms a critical part of the wider and significant Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project that aims to restore, improve and safeguard this biodiverse nature reserve while balancing the site’s recreational use for many years to come.

“We are pleased to share with residents what the new pedestrian bridge will look like, and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.”

Richard Hinckley, Business Director at Beaver Bridges Ltd, said: "We are honoured to have been chosen to deliver this excellent bridge and are very much looking forward to commencing the works in collaboration with the Three Rivers District Council team, to assist in reconnecting the community with such a much-loved local spot and to stimulate active travel.”

To facilitate the major improvement bridge works later this year, some trees and shrubs surrounding the bridge will have to be cleared.

This will mean the bridge and the play area will be closed for five working days from Monday 23 September. Pedestrians can still access the Rickmansworth Aquadrome and town centre during these works. A diversion route with on-site signage will be in place.