Work on Haverfordwest’s controversial ‘Instagram-friendly’ footbridge is due to start in June.

The construction of the new levelling-up-supported footbridge in the centre of the town is set to continue, with senior councillors hearing recently that it was “good value for Pembrokeshire taxpayers”.

Concerns about the bridge – and potential costs – have previously been raised, with the design previously labelled an ‘Instagrammable’ bridge.

Councillors have previously heard the cost of the ‘signature’ bridge project amounts to £5.7m out of an overall Heart of Pembrokeshire budget of £25.4m. Of that money, external funding of £17.7m (70%) has been secured for the overall project and £5.1m (90%) secured for the bridge project.

‘instagram-friendly’ ‘signature bridge’
The ‘instagram-friendly’ ‘signature bridge’ plans submitted as part of the Haverfordwest Footbridge and Western Quayside Phase 2 plans. (Picture: Atkins Ltd.)

This leaves council costs at £7.7m for the overall project, and some £600,000 for the bridge and associated works, with costs to date for the two projects amounting to £3.9m for the Heart of Pembrokeshire project, and £1.1m for the bridge only.

The contract for the footbridge and Phase 2 public realm improvements along Western Quayside has been awarded to Walters Group UK Ltd, with work set to start in early June and planned to be complete by March 2025.