A new footbridge - that will provide cyclists and pedestrians with a safe route across the Bridgend Northern Distributor road - was lifted into place over the weekend.

The bridge forms a key element of the infrastructure for the new £200 million Parc Derwen village style community planned for the 200-acre site near Coity, Bridgend.

The new bridge spans the A4061 dual carriage way and will provide a link between Parc Derwen and Litchard.

Funded by the Parc Derwen Consortium comprising the Welsh Assembly Government, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey, the £600,000 bridge was designed by Cardiff-based consulting engineers Parsons Brinckerhoff and constructed by Hirwaun-based Walters UK Ltd.

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The 2.5m wide bridge, which has a 45m span and weighs 43 tonnes, was lifted onto specially prepared concrete abutments using a 500 tonnes crane. The A4061 was closed to traffic during the lift.

Parc Derwen will provide 1500 new homes, 150 of which will be affordable housing, and make a significant contribution towards the local authority’s housing requirements identified in the Unitary Development Plan.

The new village style community will include a small shopping centre, walking and cycling routes, open green spaces, parkland, formal and informal play areas and an extensive green buffer zone between Coity and Parc Derwen.

The key off-site highway improvements for the development have already been completed including the Coity Bypass and Junction 36 works.

Parc Derwen has been carefully planned and designed to follow traditional village layouts and will incorporate the highest standards for housing design and the environment.

Site infrastructure work got under way in early November 2009 and the first two phases are due to be completed by late June providing access for development. Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon will start house building this summer with homes available for occupation before Christmas.

(CD)