Bicycle trips across the new Adur Ferry Bridge are up by more than 60% according to new figures from Sustrans.
The cycling charity has completed its first monitoring report on use of the swing bridge since it opened last September. Results show estimated cycling trips are up by 64% to 137,968, pedestrian trips are up by 10% to an estimated 742,128 and overall use of the bridge is up by 15% with an estimated total 912,122 trips.
The monitoring also suggests a big increase in use of the bridge for leisure purposes at the weekend and in the school holidays as well as a large pick up in the number of people aged over 65 using it.
The figures come just a week after it was announced Adur Ferry Bridge, which crosses the harbour to connect Shoreham-By-Sea to Shoreham Beach, was awarded the Community Benefit Award in the ICE South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2014.
Pieter Montyn, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: “This bridge, like its elderly predecessor, is a vital link across the River Adur for the communities of Shoreham Beach and Shoreham town.
“It has become a much loved community asset and this award is something that both the contractors and the community should feel rightly proud of.
“These latest figures from Sustrans demonstrate really high levels of use which is great news. I’m confident those that use will grow and grow, especially as we approach summer.“
Unfortunately the bridge has been subjected to vandalism attacks and a new CCTV system was installed by West Sussex County Council last week. The cameras will be recording images 24 hours a day.
Panes of glass that had been damaged during the attacks will also be replaced over the coming days, subject to weather conditions.
The bridge was built by West Sussex County Council contractor Osborne and replaced the old Shoreham Footbridge which spanned the River Adur for 91 years.
The project was funded by West Sussex County Council, The Big Lottery Fund, cycling charity Sustrans and Adur District Council.
HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially unveiled the bridge in front of a packed crowd at Coronation Green last November.
Pieter added: “It is always a shame when mindless acts of vandalism blight such a wonderful structure and ruin people’s enjoyment of something that is there for the whole community. We hope that this new CCTV will act as a deterrent to whoever is responsible.”
