BUILDING a second bridge at Balkerne Hill has been labelled unviable in a new report.

Essex County Council wants to replace the 1.2metre wide bridge with one 60cms wider so it can be shared be pedestrians and cyclists.

The plans went before Colchester Council's planning committee last month with members questioning the safety of having pedestrians and cyclists sharing the same bridge and asking whether leaving the existing structure and building another would be possible.

A new report by council officers said: "A second bridge would require significant alteration and engineering work to facilitate its installation.

"This would substantially increase the cost of the overall project making it unviable.

"If the project were financially viable, the existing bridge would not be usable for the duration of any works by the public due to the proximity of the second bridge works to it.

"It is likely that due to the additional engineering work required to install a second bridge that works may run past the eight week closure required for the proposed replacement bridge and may also require the closure of the A134 Westway to a greater degree than that required for the proposed replacement bridge."

The report confirmed Essex County Council would not be segregating the bridge to try and avoid conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and a safety audit had been carried out.

It said: "Potential conflict between cyclists and pedestrians has been carefully considered throughout and the solutions suggested by the audit have been incorporated into the final design of the project.

"In particular attention has been paid to the need for tactile paving on the approach to the bridge so that partially sighted pedestrians are aware they are in an area that may be used by cyclists, further clear signage indicating the shared nature of the proposed bridge is to be displayed."

Officers have continued to recommended the plans for approval and they will be discussed again by the committee on Thursday.