The Worcestershire County Council (Hampton Bridge) Scheme 2025 Confirmation Instrument 2025

The bridge spans over the River Avon, 650 metres downstream of Abbey Bridge. On the west bank it connects to a ramped pedestrian and cyclist shared-use footway from the Severn Trent Water Access Road at a point 240 metres north of the B4084 Pershore Road.

On the east bank it connects to steps and a ramped pedestrian and cyclist shared-use causeway at a point 330 metres to the west of Evesham Leisure Centre off the A4184 Abbey Road.

The minimum navigable waterway width required is 3.7 metres width.

Over the river the bridge will provide an air draft of not less than 4.3 metres high above the typical (non-flood) water level of +19.93 metres Above Ordnance Datum, for a width of not less than 21.0 metres.

At its highest point, the deck will measure approximately 8.3 metres above the River Avon’s typical summer water level, with a parapet extending 1.5 metres above this.

To allow passage of vehicles below the bridge, to the landward side of the bridge support on either side of the river there is a vehicle access accommodation underpass below the bridge structure.

On the west side this is a minimum 4.65 metres clear headroom for 4 metres clear width below the western approach span.

On the east side this is a minimum 4.65 metres clear headroom for 6 metres clear width below the causeway immediately to the east of the bridge connection point.

There are Public Rights of Way along the riverbanks on both sides below the approach spans. A minimum 2.4 metres clear headroom for a minimum width of 2.0 metres is provided.

The bridge will be of a below-deck arch design to optimise views from the bridge while minimising its impact on existing key vantage points including the nearby listed buildings.

In terms of materials, the steelwork of the main span and approach ramps will be weathering steel. The main span will be a deck arch bridge with crossbeams and a longitudinally stiffened steel deck plate. The primary structure will be formed from fabricated structural steel.

The bridge deck will be formed from a steel deck plate with longitudinal stiffeners. Pedestrian/cycle parapets of height approximately 1.4 metres will be installed along the edges of all raised footpaths. On the bridge and ramps, two rails are provided at approximately 1 metre and 1.4 metres to provide a handrail for pedestrians and a rail to protect against falling for cyclists respectively.

The steelwork will be left unpainted as the weathering steel that will be used has a chemical composition that provides increased resistance to corrosion after developing a protective surface patina. The surface finish will be characteristically that of rust but provides the major benefit of avoiding any need for future repainting thus offer significant environmental benefits as well as significantly reducing long-term maintenance costs. This finish will complement the natural surroundings of the structure.

The surfacing on the deck plate will be a thin epoxy grit slip resistant combined waterproofing and surfacing. The deck will have long-fall and cross-fall and include drainage outlets at intervals. By sloping both along the length of the bridge and causeway, and from the centre of the structure to the sides across the width the potential for flooding will be reduced, as will the risk of ice forming on the bridge.