Months until delayed viaduct ramp opens - charity

A new access ramp at a historic viaduct will not open for a "number of months", the charity behind the project has said.

Bennerley Viaduct, on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border, reopened to the public as a route for cyclists and pedestrians in 2022 after being closed for 54 years.

Construction of the ramp began in March 2024 and it was due to open in July.

However, it has faced repeated delays due to concerns over its structure and the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct charity has now said the timescale was "difficult to assess".

The ramp will replace steps on the Nottinghamshire side of the structure and "improve access" to the 1,410ft (429.8m) platform.

The opening was first delayed to give contractors more time for "snagging" work to ensure the installation was safe.

Then, in October, the group said it had been held up further due to poor weather conditions and expressed hope it would open "shortly" after new assessments.

But now a spokesman has said the area of the eastern ramp was still being reviewed by geotechnical engineers.

"Until these investigations are complete, the necessary work and time needed to complete and open the ramp are difficult to assess," he said.

"As a result, we are looking at a number of months before the ramp will be open."

The western ramp at the Erewash Canal end was now open, he added.

Bennerley Viaduct first opened as a railway bridge in 1877 but was closed in 1968 as part of the Beeching railway cuts.

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.