Construction of a new bridge has enabled further restoration of Chesterfield Canal and created a fresh link for the Trans Pennine Trail in a project led by the Chesterfield Canal Trust and supported by Derbyshire County Council.

The new bridge being installed that will carry the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) over a currently derelict part of Chesterfield Canal at Hartington. The bridge creates a new link for the TPT and will enable restoration of the canal.

The bridge has been designed and delivered by the trust as part of their £6 million restoration project at Hartington. It is built on the council's land and will carry the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) above the valley floor, so enabling restoration of the derelict part of the canal beneath. The bridge is critical to the restoration as otherwise the new canal would sever the TPT.

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Now completed, the bridge will be adopted by the council and the route of the TPT across it designated as a bridleway open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

It is the first phase of the Canal Trust's £6 million canal restoration scheme. Most of the money will come from the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2 million investment in Staveley through the government's Towns Fund, covering 10 projects in all. It cost the Canal Trust £0.55 million from their £6 million budget to construct the bridge and its associated structures and of this £0.17 million is payable to the council as a contribution towards the future maintenance of the bridge.

Image courtesy of Chesterfield Canal Trust