en.Wedoany.com Reported - Croydon Council has signed a funding agreement with Network Rail to open the public footbridge at East Croydon station, a major step in improving connectivity in the town centre.

The bridge connects the east and west sides of the station, and once completed, it will be open to pedestrians at both ends for the first time. This will provide residents of Addiscombe with a direct route to the town centre and offer commuters and visitors a simple, accessible way to travel.

The council, together with Network Rail and developer Menta Regeneration, has agreed on the completion method for the eastern entrance and the future maintenance of the bridge. Menta Regeneration is the developer of The Blossoms project on Cherry Orchard Road, which connects to the bridge via a public square.

Opening this connecting route will be a significant milestone in improving transport in East Croydon and the surrounding area, supporting Executive Mayor Jason Perry's broader plans to revitalise the town centre and attract investment.

Through Mayor Perry's £40 million plan, ten projects are being delivered to make Croydon more welcoming, better connected, and easier to navigate. These include a new ground-level pedestrian crossing on Wellesley Road, the closure of a pedestrian underpass, and a major upgrade to Dingwall Road featuring smoother surfaces, more comfortable seating areas, a redesigned layout, and safer crossing facilities.

George Street has also been resurfaced with improved crossings, and new motorcycle parking spaces have been added near the Dingwall Road junction to help delivery drivers stay off the pavements.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail's Sussex route director, said: "We are delighted to have reached this milestone in partnership with Croydon Council and Menta Regeneration. This new eastern pedestrian access will greatly improve accessibility and connectivity in the area, and we look forward to bringing these long-awaited benefits to Croydon residents and our customers. Getting to this point has taken longer than we expected, and we thank residents and passengers for their continued patience. I am pleased that we can now move into the delivery phase together and complete the work by 2027."