WORK on a major new bridge that will improve traffic flow in Middlesbrough will begin this week.

The £10m Middlehaven Dock Bridge and link road will replace the existing footbridge across the dock near to the Temenos sculpture and Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium.

Over the next 12 months the Middlesbrough Council-led project will see contractor Balfour Beatty replace the existing footbridge across Middlehaven Dock with a state-of-the-art road bridge.

The new Dock Bridge is due to open next summer, paving the way for work to start on the proposed snow centre.

The new road access will help to ease congestion on the A66 trunk route, as well as further opening up around 25 hectares of significant commercial and residential development land on the wider Middlehaven site.

The scheme has been designed and progressed by Middlesbrough Council over the last 18 months with a major injection of £3.9m from Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor and executive member for city centre strategy, said: “This bridge represents a major milestone in the development of Middlehaven, and will further establish Middlesbrough as the city heart of the Tees Valley.

“Completing the east-west riverside arterial route will help to ease congestion and boost public transport in what is one of the region’s most important regeneration areas.

“Exciting things are happening at Middlehaven and this development is the latest step in unlocking the area’s huge potential and changing the face of Middlesbrough forever.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Tees Valley Combined Authority has made a significant contribution to this important project.

“The new bridge will improve access to the Middlehaven area and support the regeneration and development of brownfield land sites, bringing investment and job creation opportunities to this part of Middlesbrough.

“The plans to create a marina and centre for water sports and leisure use are very exciting and demonstrate the ambition that is being shown across Tees Valley and this is something I am very proud of and will do my utmost to support.”

The new road and lifting bridge - with associated lighting, drainage and landscaping works - will feature a 95-tonne steel bridge deck with 120 tonnes of steel reinforcement and 159 tonnes of pre-cast concrete units.