A NEW footbridge over the busy A38 is one of nine projects in Bromsgrove which will benefit from a £3.43 million scheme encouraging people off the roads, to help ease traffic congestion.

The ‘uncontrolled crossing’ over the A38, off Bant Mill Road, will be replaced by the end of next year to provide a safe connection from the town centre to the train station.

The crossing currently has no push button, meaning cyclists and children arriving to nearby Bromsgrove School have had to navigate an often “dangerous” road.

Jon Fraser from Worcestershire Highways said: “This is a well-used and busy link, particularly in the mornings.

“With no push button it can be a little bit dangerous, and it is not very cycle friendly and not very well lit at night either.

“We have the town centre and a school one side and the train station at the end of the other, so we want to make this a key corridor so that people can safely get across.”

Bromsgrove Central ward councillor at Worcestershire County Council, Rita Dent, believes the footbridge is long overdue.

She said: “I’m delighted. Residents have wanted some sort of safe crossing for some time.

“This area is a good link to get to and from the station on foot. It will provide a safe crossing for children and everybody else who wants to cross the road.”

It is one of nine projects in the ‘Bromsgrove Town Centre Network: Unlocking Growth in Bromsgrove’ scheme which will benefit from the Department for Transport funding.

The projects - which include pavement widening, new cycle routes, and traffic light improvements - are aimed at encouraging people to walk and cycle, rather than just use their cars.

Cllr Ken Pollock, cabinet member with responsibility for economy and infrastructure at county council, is confident the plans will help ease traffic congestion.

He said: “We want to get people out of their cars, off the roads, and walking and cycling, which is good for traffic congestion and good for our air quality.

“We would rather dangle the carrot than use the stick.

“It is better to offer those safer routes and encourage people to walk or cycle rather than, for instance, increase car parking charges.

“This crossing is a key area for people to go from the town centre to the new station, which we spent a lot of money on. It is daft to effectively have it cut off.”

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid added: "I'm absolutely delighted that Bromsgrove has been allocated £3.4 million towards improving infrastructure.

“This government funding will not only help to unlock growth, but it will boost the town centre and help to continue fuelling the Midland's Engine."