A "viable" design for a bridge to take the Kenilworth to Leamington Spa cycleway (K2L) is coming together, an update at Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) has revealed.

The bridge is likely to be the final piece of the route to be installed, and the completion of the cycle link still appears some time away.

The update followed a briefing at Warwickshire County Council (WCC).

"Overall we are beginning to see more detail of each phase as design progresses," it said

"The major risks remain funding (which officers seem relatively comfortable about) and potential

delays in the planning process."

Construction of the very first phase of the much-delayed K2L cycleway in Leamington was completed in early 2024, with progress continuing along the A452.

The update revealed a Tiger Crossing will carry K2L over the Stoneleigh Road and construction is expected to start in winter 2025 and be completed in Autumn 2026.

The report said this section of the route is four to five months behind schedule.

Land negotiations continue around the Bericote area but Warwickshire County Council hopes construction will start here in 2026.

Of the River Avon crossing at Bericote, the update said: "A viable bridge solution has been designed and pre-planning discussions are taking place with the Environment Agency. 

"These appear to be progressing well.

"More funding is still required for this phase and the land negotiations are more complex.

"This is likely to be the last phase of the project to complete in late 2027."

And at the Kenilworth end of the cycleway, designs are still being worked on around the Thickthorn and St John's roundabouts.

Speaking at the most recent KTC meeting, Cllr Andrew Milton welcomed the update.

"We are definitely seeing more detail now which is good news," he said.

The county council approved the near £5 million budget for the K2L scheme in 2020 before giving full approval for the 5km cycleway in January 2021.

Then WCC leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe told Nub News in February 2022 the project could be "four to five years" before it was completed.