A NEW pedestrian footbridge could be built on a key route into Chester, following a report on improving safety.

Cheshire’s Environment Executive is to consider options for improving safety on Chester’s Hoole Bridge – including the building of a separate footbridge.

The 21-page feasibility study examined four options.

These range from widening the south footway and reducing the opposite footway at a cost of £570,000.

The road would need to be entirely closed for 18 weeks or a single lane closed for 24 weeks.

The possibility of a separate 2.5m wide footbridge with the existing footways either converted to cycleways or the road widened would cost £1,980,000 or £2,660,000.

The final option is a separate 3m wide combined footway/cycleway bridge.

However, cyclists heading east out of the city would have to cross the road to continue their journey.

The report pointed out that the footbridge scheme could clash with Network Rail’s possible plan to build a multi-story car park nearby.

Approximately 21,000 vehicles use the bridge a day.

County councillor Peter Byrne had called last year to separate pedestrians and traffic on the bridge

He said: “I am glad that the issue is being looked at seriously, and there could be a chance in the future that safety for pedestrians will come to the forefront.”