Walter's Walkway Reopens Ahead of Schedule in Derby
Contractors complete vital bridge lift four months early, reconnecting Darley Village and Darley Abbey Mills communities.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a large bridge being lifted by a crane over a river near industrial buildings.
Walter's Walkway in Derby has been reconnected between Darley Village and Darley Abbey Mills, with contractors completing the bridge lift four months ahead of schedule.
The vital community link, Walter’s Walkway, is set to reopen to the public in mid-November after contractors Cawarden successfully lifted the bridge using a 470-tonne crane. This significant engineering feat was achieved in a challenging riverside environment and four months ahead of the original schedule.
The prefabricated bridge had been closed since December 2025 due to safety concerns with the original 1930s structure beneath it. The demolition of the old structure and the reinstatement of Walter’s Walkway was initially planned for completion by February 2027. However, Derby City Council, with support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), expedited the process.
In July 2026, the walkway was lifted entirely from the river to allow for the demolition of the original bridge. This was followed by reinforcement of the riverbank, including the installation of new sheet piles and concrete abutments to provide a stable foundation for the new walkway.
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"My thanks to the teams at the Council and Cawarden for their hard work in returning the bridge safely and well ahead of schedule. This is a huge moment for the Darley. The communities at the Mills and in the Village have been cut off for several months and I’m delighted that the bridge is now in place. I look forward to it fully reopening in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone for your patience throughout this complex situation. With Walter’s Walkway back in place, we can now focus on delivering a new permanent bridge for Darley Abbey."
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability and a Darley Ward councillor, attended the bridge lift and highlighted the importance of restoring the connection.
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"Walter’s Walkway is an important connection in Darley Abbey, so it’s great to see it back in place four months ahead of schedule. I know how frustrating the closure has been for local people. We’ve helped fund the urgent work to get the walkway back in place, as well as supporting plans for a new permanent bridge. It’s a good example of what we can achieve when EMCCA and the council work together, with local knowledge and regional funding helping to get things moving. I’m pleased we’ve been able to support Darley Abbey through this and help get this connection restored."
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, commented on the collaborative effort, stating that the EMCCA has helped fund the urgent work and supports plans for a new permanent bridge.
Since the original bridge's closure in May 2022, the Council has been working towards restoring permanent access to the Mills complex. A strategic outline business case published in February identified a solution for a new structure offering full-time access for active travel and emergency vehicle access.
Based on information from the official source: Derby City Council (22/10/2026)
