A proposal to build a replacement for the ageing Swing Bridge has been granted planning approval by the Development Applications Board.

Plans for the replacement bridge, to be erected to the immediate east of the Swing Bridge spanning Ferry Reach in St George’s, went before the DAB with a recommendation from a technical officer to give the project the green light.

A report presented to the board said that every technical subject had been examined in detail with impacts evaluated and mitigation measures proposed where possible.

The report writer said: “The proposal will not be injurious to the environment of the surrounding area, rather, the department views the replacement bridge as a necessary improvement.

“The bridge will not only provide safe travelling for land vehicles and pedestrians, but also marine vessels — the new bridge will be designed to be openable, something the previous bridge has not been able to do since 2015.

“The design of the proposed works is in keeping with the character of the existing bridge and the area. As such, the department recommends approval.”

While a land dispute with the Bermuda National Trust halted a “virtually identical” planning application in 2023, the application said that the Government and the charity had come to a tentative agreement for a land transfer.

The Government confirmed last year that the dispute had been resolved and the new planning application included a letter of acknowledgement from the charity, dated May 2024.

The Swing Bridge, which connects St David’s Island to St George’s Island, has suffered from the effects of corrosion since it was put in place in 1964.

An environmental-impact statement included with the applications said that while the bridge had been given major rehabilitative works in 2002 and 2007, the structure was now considered “beyond economic repair”.

The new hydraulically operated lift bridge, which would take up to three years to build, would allow a clearance of 13.6ft for boats at high tide, as opposed to the 10ft clearance offered by the Swing Bridge.

“Alternative options and locations were investigated when considering how to resolve the damaged Swing Bridge, [and] the proposed site for a replacement bridge determined to have the least impact,” the report said.

“An environmental impact assessment, prepared by Bermuda Environmental Consulting Ltd, was conducted to examine potential impacts of development.

“One key point raised was that constructing a replacement bridge provided the advantage of allowing continued access between the two islands during construction. Once the replacement bridge is complete, the existing swing bridge can be removed.”

The planning report said that the project would have some impact on vegetation on both sides of the waterway, including the loss of some woodland reserve.

However, a conservation management plan included in the application proposed relocating mangroves and cedars on both sides while removing invasive plants.

“The department considers that the applicant has done due diligence with respect to exploring and justifying the proposed works and the location,” the report said.

“Moreover, the National Parks Commission, the overseeing entity for National Parks, has stated support for the proposal.”

The report said that the Department of Marine and Ports would work with the Department of Works and Engineering to move three moorings which would be affected by the project and was in the process of contacting the mooring owners.

Its writer said that the Department of Planning recommended the proposal be approved, stating that due diligence had been done with exploring all aspects of the project.