CONSTRUCTION on a major new river bridge in a North-East town is now well underway.

The £10m Middlehaven Dock Bridge and link road is due to open next year and will pave the way for work to start on the proposed £30 million snow centre.

The 12-month project has already seen the removal of the existing footbridge, used by many football fans, and work is now progressing on the creation of the road crossing.

The scheme has been designed and progressed by Middlesbrough Council over the last 18 months, with funding of nearly £4 million from Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

Earlier this week, Middlesbrough Councillors and representatives from TVCA visited the site to see progress first-hand and hear from contractor Balfour Beatty about the next steps.

The new road access will further open up around 25 hectares of mixed-use commercial and residential development land on the wider Middlehaven site, while also helping to ease congestion on the A66 trunk route.

Stephen Semple, Balfour Beatty east delivery unit managing director, said: “It is fantastic to see visible physical progress on site.

“Our combined project teams have been working relentlessly over the last three months to install piled foundations for the bridge.

“Over the coming months we anticipate the bridge and roadwork construction continuing in line with our programme, with the key event being the construction of the central pre-cast concrete pier in the dock.”

Cllr Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough deputy mayor and executive member for city centre strategy, added: “This is a major milestone in the transformation of Middlesbrough as the established city heart of the Tees Valley.”