Leeds City Council is to replace Otley footbridge after public reports in July 2023 revealed defects. An urgent investigation and specialist inspection uncovered additional hidden issues, leading the council to decide that a full replacement of the footway is necessary.

The council plans to install a temporary footbridge to allow residents with easy access to both sides of the river, whilst construction of a new footbridge takes place on the main bridge. This temporary bridge will be found a short distance to the east of Otley Bridge and link to Tittybottle Park.

Otley Bridge is an ancient seven span stone bridge and Scheduled Ancient Monument, which is almost 800 years old and carries the B6451 over the River Wharfe, which links two halves of Otley town. In the 1950s a cantilevered pedestrian concrete walkway was added to improve safety, as traffic use grew. It is this walkway which is falling into disrepair with holes in the footway being covered by deck boards and rolling programme of inspections ahead of its replacement.

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Specialist contractor Balfour Beatty were appointed to look at solutions for bridge replacement and traffic management of the works. Initial work looked at all the options which saw pedestrians being diverted into the carriageway and single lane with temporary traffic lights for vehicular traffic. It was felt that any traffic restrictions in Otley town centre would be too disruptive, so a further contingency was developed to provide a separate temporary pedestrian crossing to enable the current traffic layout to be kept.

If the council does not address the footbridge problems the deterioration will continue, with current mitigation finally becoming inadequate. This will eventually need a full closure of the walkway to pedestrians on safety grounds, and a lengthy pedestrian diversion or disruptive traffic lights to facilitate pedestrians on the road bridge.

Initial activity is subjected to constraints of the site along a residential street and the geography. This will include some tree and vegetation clearance on the southern side of the river to create a temporary working area and launch site for initial piling works and to position a crane that will lift the bridge sections into place. In the park on the northern side minor works will also need to be carried out for creating a temporary abutment for the footbridge and to divert utility services. After the scheme, the council will plant several semi-mature trees for any tree which can't be replaced like for like.

The council will write to residents who live nearest the work site to further explain the works, and provide regular progress updates over the duration of the scheme. Residents and businesses will also be able to speak to the project team at the Otley Community Hub on Nelson Street, starting in September on the following day/times: Tuesday 10 – 11am and Friday 1pm – 3pm.

Subject to the weather, the scheme is anticipated to be completed during autumn 2025.