Highways Act 1980

70 Footbridges over highways

(1) Without prejudice to any other powers of theirs to construct or reconstruct bridges, the highway authority for any highway may, for the purpose of protecting traffic along the highway from danger, or of making the crossing of it less dangerous to, or easier for, pedestrians, construct, light and maintain a bridge over the highway for the use of pedestrians, and may alter, remove or close temporarily any such bridge.

(2) A bridge constructed under this section may form part of a bridge constructed for the use of vehicles or of a bridge providing a way from premises on one side of a highway to premises on the other or a means of access from a highway to any premises.

(3) The supports of, and approaches to, a bridge constructed under this section may be situated—

(a) in the highway over which the bridge is to be constructed ; or

(b) subject to subsection (4) below, in any other highway that crosses or enters the route of the first-mentioned highway.

(4) The supports of, or approaches to, a bridge to be constructed under this section shall not be constructed in such a highway as is mentioned in subsection (3)(b) above unless the highway authority by whom the bridge is to be constructed are the highway authority for that highway or the highway authority for it have given their consent.

(5) Where any bridge proposed to be constructed under this section by a highway authority will provide or improve an access to a highway from any street vested in some other highway authority or any other premises, the highway authority may enter into agreements with that other authority or any person having an interest in those premises—

(a) for the making by the other party to the agreement of contributions towards the expenses to be incurred by the highway authority in constructing, lighting and maintaining the bridge;

(b) with respect to the use of the bridge and its maintenance.

(6) A highway authority shall pay compensation to any person who sustains damage by reason of the execution by them under this section of works in or over a highway.