BRIDGING THE FUTURE: Innovative Bridleway Bridge opens in Biggleswade

New Bridleway Bridge Opens in Biggleswade for Safer East Coast Main Line Crossing

Biggleswade residents and visitors now have a safer way to cross the East Coast Main Line with the opening of a new bridleway bridge at Lindsells Level Crossing.

Construction of the fully accessible bridge began in December 2022. Designed for pedestrians, horse riders, and cyclists, the bridge improves community connectivity and promotes active, sustainable travel. Rising eight meters above the tracks, the bridge features ramps approximately 185 meters long on each side, serving as a key link for Biggleswade’s Green Wheel, a popular walking and cycling route around the town's outskirts.

The Lindsells location is particularly busy, with four tracks carrying over 300 trains daily at speeds up to 125 mph. The new bridge eliminates the need for users to cross the tracks at the nearby level crossing, significantly enhancing safety for both users and train crews. Over the past three years, there have been four "near misses" at the level crossing, where train drivers had to apply emergency brakes. Consequently, Lindsells Level Crossing has been closed and blocked off to pedestrians.

The bridge was officially inaugurated by Paul Mason, Chief Officer for Infrastructure Delivery at Central Bedfordshire Council; Councillor Mark Foster, Mayor of Biggleswade Town Council; and Louise Cox, Head of Route Safety, Health, and Environment for Network Rail. The Network Rail project team, responsible for the bridge's construction, also attended the opening ceremony.

Louise Cox, Head of Route Safety, Health, and Environment for Network Rail said: "We’re thrilled to see this new bridleway bridge open which will provide a safe route across the busy East Coast Main Line for local people.

"At Network Rail, keeping people safe on and around the railway is at the heart of everything we do, and it has been great to work with local stakeholders to deliver this project which will meet our values.”

This new bridge is part of a broader infrastructure investment funded by Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, aiming to improve safety and connectivity in the area.