Network Rail is holding two days of public events in Lincoln next week to seek comments on proposed designs for a new footbridge over the level crossing at Brayford Wharf East. The rail company wants to put an accessible bridge on two sites in the city - at High Street and Brayford Wharf East in order to reduce the risk of misuse at the crossings.

Phil Verster, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, explained: “High Street and Brayford Wharf level crossings are already of the highest possible safety design. Despite this every day we see people taking risk by rushing across the crossings when the warnings have begun and even lifting or climbing over the barriers.

“We have been taking advice from City of Lincoln and Lincolnshire County Council representatives and specialists from English Heritage and the Environment Agency to try and find a suitable solution for these sites. We believe we have good designs for Brayford Wharf and will be holding public exhibitions on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 October for the people of Lincoln to give us their comments.

“We remain committed to finding a solution for the High Street site. However, further discussions are required before we are able to present designs to the public. This work is progressing at speed.”

Designs can be viewed in Network Rail’s incident vehicle which will be parked outside the old signal box on Brayford Wharf East from 10.00 – 19.00 on Friday 19 October and 10.00 – 13.00 on Saturday 20 October.

Updated details and designs will also be posted on the Network Rail website: www.networkrail.co.uk/lincoln

Feedback and comments can be posted to the dedicated email address: [email protected]

A planning application for the Brayford site will be submitted in December 2012 with an application for High Street following in due course.