The decision by members of the council's enterprise and infrastructure committee was in line with views expressed by the public earlier this year. Most people prefered the arch to a flat girder bridge.

The preferred design would see a bridge with a 126m-long central arch flanked at each end by a shorter arch of 37m. The piers would be on the riverbanks to avoid disturbing the river's ecosystem. Atkins is the project’s designer.

The bridge is part of a national scheme to invest in walking and cycling routes. Charity Sustrans won a national television vote in 2007 to secure lottery funding for its Connect2 project.