New £19.6m River Soar bridge opens to reconnect Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

Traffic is beginning to return to a key cross-county route after a new £19.6 million bridge over the River Soar opened on the A6006, replacing a structure that had served the area for more than 90 years.

The new 83-metre Zouch Bridge has been built alongside the ageing 1930s crossing, providing a modern connection between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire that is designed to meet future transport demands while improving resilience on one of the area's principal routes.

Although the bridge has now opened to traffic, the full A6006 corridor between the A6 in Leicestershire and the A60 in Nottinghamshire is expected to be fully operational once nearby works by Network Rail at Kirk Hill Bridge are completed later this month.

Innovative engineering over the River Soar

Construction began during the summer of 2024, with Eric Wright Civil Engineering delivering the project on behalf of Leicestershire County Council.

One of the scheme's biggest engineering challenges came from overhead high-voltage power lines, which prevented the use of conventional heavy-lift cranes.

Instead, engineers employed a specialist hydraulic jacking system to slide the bridge's steel beams 36 metres across the River Soar into their final position, allowing the structure to be assembled safely despite the restricted working environment.

The project also required the construction of bridge foundations and river piers using watertight cofferdams to enable work below the waterline.

With the new crossing now operational, attention will turn to dismantling and demolishing the original bridge. The 80-metre concrete and steel structure will be removed in carefully managed sections before the former approach roads through Zouch village are excavated and reinstated.

The wider scheme has also included the construction of new approach roads and the installation of almost 500 metres of new carriageway.

Supporting wider transport improvements

The reopening of the bridge coincides with significant railway infrastructure work nearby.

Network Rail is rebuilding Kirk Hill Bridge at Sutton Bonington to provide additional clearance for larger freight trains and to accommodate future railway electrification, meaning the full reopening of the A6006 will follow once those works are complete.

Together, the projects are intended to improve both road and rail connectivity across the region while supporting future growth.

Benefits beyond construction

The bridge project has also delivered wider economic and community benefits during construction.

More than 400 students have participated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities linked to the scheme, helping to promote careers in engineering and infrastructure.

In addition, approximately £2.8 million has been spent with businesses in the local economy throughout the construction programme.

The official opening was marked by a ceremony attended by representatives from Leicestershire County Council, Eric Wright Civil Engineering and local schoolchildren.

Councillor Dan Harrison, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, said the bridge represented a major investment in the area's future.

"This is an important milestone for local communities and everyone who has been part of delivering this project.

"It's wonderful to see the new bridge open and to provide something that will serve the area well for many years to come. As well as improving a key route, the project has supported local jobs, businesses and young people, creating a positive legacy beyond the bridge itself.

"The A6006 is a vital link, connecting people to the airport and freeport developments, and we've worked hard to deliver a high-quality, future-ready bridge while keeping disruption to a minimum."

Eric Wright Civil Engineering Managing Director Gavin Hulme praised the project team for overcoming a number of technical challenges.

"This has been a complex build with a number of challenges, and we'd like to thank the local community for their understanding throughout. It's great to see the bridge reopen and reconnect the area, and we will now move forward with the next phase of works to safely demolish the old bridge."

The completion of the new Zouch Bridge secures a strategic transport link for decades to come, improving connectivity between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire while providing infrastructure capable of supporting increasing traffic volumes and the region's continued economic development.