SCARBOROUGH Bridge has reopened to the public after delays to a £4.4 million scheme to improve accessibility for walkers and cyclists.

However, work on the York bridge is expected to continue for several more weeks, with an official ceremony to mark its completion now expected in May.

The bridge, which is used by more than 3,000 people a day, has been shut since January 26 and had been due to reopen on March 18, but the scheme was held up by poor weather.

It finally reopened to the public on Thursday, April 18.

A new footway, which will help link the city centre with the railway station, has been installed and work will continue to complete new steps to the riverside paths and access ramps.

The river crossing will remain open during the rest of the works, but with some minor width restrictions at times, as well as temporary lighting and a temporary handrail.

The new bridge will be accessible even when the river is high, unlike the previous footway.

This is the first new bridge to be built over the River Ouse in York city centre for 138 years and has been designed with a nod to the city’s Viking heritage.

It is 65 metres long and three times wider than the previous walkway and is constructed in the same ‘weathering steel’ as the adjacent railway bridge.

The new accessible bridge has been delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, City of York Council and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (YNYER EP).

It is aimed at boosting access for people travelling by bike or on foot between the train and the city centre.

David Kerfoot, chair of YNYER EP, said: “It’s really exciting when projects such as Scarborough Bridge come to life and start to serve their purpose for the public. This bridge is at the heart of York’s aspirations for accessible and sustainable transport for residents, commuters and visitors alike."

“We hope it will continue to play a role as a footprint for these principles throughout the York Central development.”