A temporary bridge is to be installed across a flood relief channel on the River Nene to allow an existing footbridge to be demolished and rebuilt.
The Environment Agency will start work today on the Duston Mill Bridge, which connects Briar Hill to the Sixfields and Upton areas of Northampton.
A site compound will be set up next week and the temporary bridge will be in place until the works are completed in December.
The Environment Agency’s Paul Mattacola said: “We need to replace the existing bridge for safety reasons.
“We know that the bridge is a popular crossing and so we are putting up the temporary bridge to minimise disruption to people in the area.
“The temporary bridge will be open for people to use before works start to demolish the existing crossing. We hope people will understand the need for us to carry out this work.”
The temporary bridge, which will be removed once the new bridge is opened to the public, will take around three weeks to build.
The new bridge will use the existing piers and will look similar to the one that is being demolished.
The works to replace the bridge are being carried out by Interserve.