Stockton-on-Tees is witnessing a significant development in its long-term regeneration plan with the recent installation of key structural elements for a new land bridge connecting the town centre to the riverside.

Contractor Esh Construction, working on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, has completed the placement of 47 precast concrete beams that will form the base of the land bridge – an integral feature of the £23M urban park initiative. The bridge will span over the A1305 Riverside Road, providing uninterrupted pedestrian access between the High Street and the River Tees.

47 precast beams were installed in total

The installation involved 45 standard beams measuring 21.5m and two larger edge beams each weighing 35t, all manufactured by Shay Murtagh Precast in Ireland and featuring environmentally advanced concrete that has 40% GGBS replacement of Portland cement. The beams were lifted into place over four days using a 200t crane, with the heaviest lifts carried out at an 11m radius. Reinforced concrete specialists BEMAC Construction provided additional support during this phase.

This infrastructure milestone will enable further construction activities, including casting a concrete deck and laying varied paving materials such as porphyry, resin, and granite. The land bridge is designed to be 55m wide and will be anchored to the existing Millennium footbridge, which itself will be extended as part of the project.

Esh Construction will now move onto pouring 170m3 of concrete to cast the bridge deck, followed by the installation of 163m2 of porphyry paving, 420m2 of resin and 75m2 of granite paving to create the public realm open space.

The wider urban park, scheduled for completion in phases over the coming years, aims to revitalise Stockton’s waterfront area, creating green, flexible spaces for community events and distinctive play areas. Planned features include an amphitheatre and enhanced landscaping in the lower park, as well as a new play park in the upper section. The bridge and associated public realm works are Phase One, followed by further developments to the oval lawn, new gardens, and play facilities.

Work will now move on to pouring the concrete for the bridge deck

The development forms a cornerstone of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s 25-year blueprint to boost the town’s appeal as a place to live, work and visit. By reconnecting the High Street with the river through a seamless public space, the project intends to transform the area’s urban landscape and provide residents with increased recreational opportunities.

Procured through the North East Procurement Organisation (Nepo), the scheme is being delivered in partnership with design firms Ryder Architecture and Billinghurst George & Partners. Construction activity is ongoing, with visible progress expected over the coming months as landscaping and amphitheatre installation begins.

The Stockton Waterfront urban park is poised to become a landmark project for the region, reflecting broader efforts to regenerate waterfronts in former industrial towns across the UK.

Visualisation of completed Stockton Waterfront urban park, featuring 55m-wide land bridge

Esh Construction contracts manager David Player said: “The bridge beam installation is a key milestone in the Stockton Waterfront project and a testament to the collaborative planning and engineering expertise of all involved.

“With the beams in place, we can now move forward with casting the bridge deck and progressing the next phase of public realm works that will bring the land bridge to life.”

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council cabinet member for regeneration and housing Richard Eglington said: “It’s very exciting to see the progress of the transformation of the Stockton Waterfront site taking place and this important milestone helps make the vision of reconnecting the High Street to the river more of a reality.

“The scale of change will also be felt across the entire Borough. Stockton Waterfront is set to be the catalyst for further regeneration work across Central Stockton and North Thornaby and we are looking to build on this success to create a thriving place for our communities and businesses.”

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