Work begins to replace 150-year-old bridge on Parkland Walk

People visiting the nature reserve will be diverted around Stanhope Road as work takes place with the new bridge set to open by November

The bridge over Stanhope Road forms part of Parkland Walk

A project to replace the 150-year-old Stanhope Road bridge and protect the capital’s longest local nature reserve is underway.

The bridge is part of Parkland Walk, a 4.5-mile pedestrian and cycle route between Muswell Hill and Finsbury Park, and needs replacing to guarantee a 120-year lifespan.

Preparation and enabling work, which will include the creation of a temporary pedestrian diversion route for Parkland Walk, began in March and will continue through April.

The main works to demolish the existing bridge will start on 6th May with the new structure expected to be completed by the end of November.

The six-week demolition project will require the closure of Stanhope Road and traffic diversions in place for motor vehicles. Buses will use an alternative route via Archway.

Following this closure, further works will be carried out under single alternative lane traffic signals during the project and there will be a further two-week closure of Stanhope Road in October to install the new bridge deck.

The plans to replace the bridge sparked local controversy in 2022 when two trees were removed in preparation for the work and the council confirmed several more would need to be felled later. An online petition calling on the council to draw up an eco-friendly design for the new bridge that “puts nature first” gained more than 2,000 signatures.

The council now says the new bridge project will see an overall “biodiversity uplift” of 13% in the immediate area and that ten new trees will be planted in local streets to replace those lost as part of the project.

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