18/06/2008 05:13:00
Plans for a new, iconic swing bridge to be built in Hull have been approved by the government.
The £6.6 million swing footbridge will connect Hull's Old Town to The Boom, a new residential and business development on the east bank of the River Humber.
The Boom, a £100 million complex, is home to new apartments, offices and a range of cafes and bars.
The hi-tech footbridge will be 60m (197ft) wide and is expected to become a visitor attraction in its own right.
According to the Hull Daily Mail, the bridge will be designed in a whale-like shape and will also feature its own restaurant.
Director of Hull Forward, John Haynes, stated: "Confirmation from the government was necessary because it is going to be a new physical structure over a navigable waterway.
"After being granted planning permission, it marks the last part of the administrative process behind securing formal approval...
"If everything goes to plan, we are looking at lifting the bridge into position at the back end of May next year."
The structure of bridge will be manufactured in South Yorkshire, but preparation for the bridge's arrival is expected to begin at the start of next year.
Mr Haynes further stated that the bridge will be lifted into place in May 2009, and is likely to be officially opened in September or October.
Once the bridge is unveiled, its unique design means that hundreds of people will be able 'ride' it when it opens to river traffic.