A NEW £380,000 bridge for cyclists and pedestrians was officially opened on Friday.

The Fatherford Footbridge provides cyclists and pedestrians with a safer crossing over the railway line than the existing road bridge.

Although the existing bridge has footpaths on its approach, the structure itself is narrow and does not have a path.

The new bridge separates pedestrians and cyclists from road traffic. As well as improving safety it will also enable further development of land east of the bridge, allowing the creation of a safe crossing point across Exeter Road for the Granite and Gears Cycle route emerging from Fatherford Road.

The bridge, which has been erected in recent weeks, has drawn criticism from members of the public for its bright blue colour, size and design. The structure has been designed to meet national requirements for bridges over railways, with 1.8-metre high solid infill parapets. The type of girder construction — Warren Truss — has been used in many locations around Devon in recent years including Peek Hill in Princetown, Budleigh Bridge in Moretonhampstead and the A38 at Heathfield, all of which form part of the Granite and Gears project.

Devon County Council and Dartmoor National Park Authority were awarded £4.4-million funding for the Granite and Gears project from The Department for Transport's (DfT) Cycling Ambition fund in 2013.

The project is developing a network of multi-use trails with the aim of improving access to Dartmoor to bolster the local economy, create new jobs and deliver health benefits.

As well as the bridge at Fatherford, a number of other ambitious schemes make up the project, including the improvement of 200km of cycle ways, with a further 140km benefiting from smaller upgrades, such as improved signage.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet member with responsibility for cycling, said: 'The Granite and Gears project is making it possible to achieve extensive improvements to the cycling infrastructure across the Dartmoor area and the investment will deliver substantial long-term benefits to the economy.

'Delivering the extensive Granite and Gears programme within a tight timescale is extremely challenging but it's on schedule thanks to the efforts and co-operation of our design teams and local stakeholders.

'Fatherford Bridge is another important component of this ambitious project to improve cycling on Dartmoor.'

Councillor James McInnes, county councillor for Hatherleigh and Chagford, said: 'The funding from the Cycling Ambition Grant has enabled us to achieve a long-held aspiration to provide a safe pedestrian and cycle route along the B3260 in Okehampton.

'Providing a bridge at this location was recognised as important for cyclists and pedestrians and particularly to provide a safe and convenient route to the future development site.

'This is imperative for the long term sustainability of the area.'

Councillor Kevin Ball, county councillor for Okehampton Rural, said: 'We're fortunate to have received the funding from Central Government to carry out this scheme and other cycle routes improvements through the Granite and Gears project.

'The improved safety provided by this bridge will hopefully encourage more people to walk and cycle when making short local journeys. It also creates a key link to the wider cycle network, offering access to Okehampton College and the Granite Way.'

Now the bridge is in place and open to cyclists, vehicle protection barriers, in the form of masonry walls, will be constructed between the road bridge and cycle bridge at each end.