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Bailey’s Bay footbridge opens

Syre Outerbridge leads the way across the Bailey's Bay Bridge by bicycle after its official opening on Saturday morning. The opening remarks were given by Michael Murphey, co-Founder of Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trial; Patricia-Gordon Pamplin, Minister of Public Works; Governor George Fergusson and his wife, Margaret Fergusson (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)

The long-awaited footbridge over Bailey’s Bay has been formally opened.

Governor George Fergusson and Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin attended Saturday’s ceremony and praised the project, which was spearheaded by the Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trail and privately funded.

“The health of our community is predicated upon our ability to get out, to enjoy the fresh air and to do some exercise, and what better way to do so then to have the ability to walk along this very scenic trail,” Ms Gordon Pamplin said.

Mr Fergusson said: “I’m a fairly regular walker and biker on the railway trail and the bits that aren’t there can be quite frustrating. To see bits get filled in like this is a wonderful contribution to the community.”

He urged the public to help to keep the trail clean by picking up litter.

The bridge is the final step in a project to reconnect segments of the railway trail between Crawl Hill and Coney Island. Work has taken a year, involving the assembly of 740 feet of bridge spans.

(Photo by Nicola Muirhead)Ribbon cutting:Governor George Fergusson and Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon Pamplin open the bridge
The opening remarks at Saturday's launch of the Bailey's Bay Bridge were given by Michael Murphey, co-Founder of Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trial; Patricia-Gordon Pamplin, Minister of Public Works; and Governor George Fergusson and his wife, Margaret Fergusson (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Margaret Fergusson, wife of Governor George Fergusson, carries out a traditional blessing of the new Bailey's Bay Bridge by smashing a coconut on it (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Margaret Fergusson, wife of Governor George Fergusson, carries out a traditional blessing of the new Bailey's Bay Bridge by smashing a coconut on it (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Michael Murphy, co-founder of Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trial (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Residents set off to enjoy the views from the Bailey's Bay Bridge (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Scores of people attending Saturday's ribbon cutting to officially open the new Bailey's Bay Bridge (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Residents take in the views from the new footbridge at Bailey's Bay, built by the Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trail (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Governor George Fergusson addresses the crowd at Saturday's official unveiling of the Bailey's Bay Bridge (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Governor George Fergusson and Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon-Pamplin unveil the plaque at the Bailey's Bay Bridge (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
Governor Fergusson and Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon-Pamplin unveil the plaque at the Bailey's Bay Bridge (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)
From left, Margaret Fergusson, Governor George Fergusson and Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon Pamplin help to unveil the Bailey's Bay Bridge, built by the Friends of the Bermuda Railway Trail (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)