by James Scott

jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk

The first pedestrians and cyclists will finally be able to cross Ashford's iconic M20 footbridge at the end of this month.

The multi-million pound bridge – providing a link from the town's Warren Retail Park to the Eureka Leisure Park – will be opened in the coming weeks.

Kent County Council highways boss Cllr Bryan Sweetland (left) said this week: “We have made quite good progress with the bridge and it’s going to be ready for the first pedestrians to use it at the end of the month.

“It takes quite a lot of co-ordinating between Highways, the council and other agencies before something like this can open.

“The important thing is we don’t want to open it and be in a position where we would have to close it again.”

An official opening ceremony, including the naming of the bridge, will take place a few weeks later.

The opening date has suffered a series of delays.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.