Following the success of recent towpath improvements, the Canal & River Trust has announced that it will be replacing the deck of Wrights Bridge.
This essential upgrade to this vital pedestrian crossing located on the Dudley No. 2 Canal near Old Hill Station. will address long-standing safety concerns and enhance the functionality of Wrights Bridge, which has been closed to the public for several years. It will enable residents to easily access nearby amenities, including Old Hill Station, significantly reducing journey times and enhancing the convenience of daily commutes.
The work will be part funded from the Rowley Regis Towns Fund grant and is expected to start in spring 2025.
The announcement follows the successful completion of extensive towpath improvements in Rowley Regis. The project, which focused on enhancing two key routes including the Old Mainline and The Dudley No.2 Canal, has already shown significant positive impacts on the local community’s health, wellbeing, and active travel habits.
These improvements have transformed the towpaths into vital community assets, with research showing a marked increase in their usage. A recent field study involving 513 users, residents, and stakeholders, highlights the tangible benefits these changes have brought to the area.
Key Findings from the Research:
- Increased Usage: 25% of local residents now use the towpaths more frequently, highlighting the community’s growing engagement with these improved spaces.
- Health Benefits: 68% of users are motivated to use the towpaths as part of their physical activity routine, with many reporting enhanced physical health since the improvements.
- Wellbeing Boost: 55% of users seek out the towpaths for peace, relaxation and to unwind, emphasising the role of these spaces in supporting mental health.
- Active Travel: 21% of users are using the towpaths for active travel, such as commuting, benefiting from the safe, traffic-free routes that the canals provide through Rowley Regis.
The impact of these enhancements is further underscored by data from towpath counters, which show a 103% increase in the average daily user count.
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, said: “We welcome this announcement and look forward to the work being completed next year. By making the bridge safe and reopening it to the public we are re-invigorating the area as a place to visit, enjoy and use in our everyday lives.”
Henriette Breukelaar, Regional Director for the West Midlands for Canal & River Trust, said: “The Town Deal-funded towpath improvements have been very well received by the local community and have enabled many more people to enjoy the canals. The work to replace unsafe and outdated bridge supports replacement of unsafe supports which had forced the bridge to close Rotten timber supports mean Wright’s Bridge is unsafe and had to be closed.
“We are delighted that we can now install long lasting Glass Reinforced Plastic replacements so people can once again easily and safely cross from one side of the canal to the other, for at least the next 60 years. The Black Country’s canals are a fantastic asset. We thank Sandwell Council for their support with this project.”
