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[[File:SVR train approaching Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1710015Kidderminster_Footbridge_20221016.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR 5029 "Nunney Castle" approaches Kidderminster under the footbridgeFootbridge (October 2022)]]'''Kidderminster Footbridge''' is located at the south end of [[File:Kidderminster_Footbridge_20150528Kidderminster | Kidderminster station]].jpg|thumb|300px|The footbridge, which is owned and managed by Network Rail, carries a public right| of way between Hoo Road (near Kidderminster footbridgeHarriers Football Club) and Chester Road South, looking towards crossing over both the SVR lines and the adjacent Kidderminster station]]to Hartlebury main line. There is no direct access between the footbridge and the SVR.

Trains approaching A footbridge has existed at this location since it replaced a level crossing in the 19th century.<ref group="note">The date of the first bridge is uncertain. The area it crosses would have become wider and more busy when the [[Kidderminster Loop Line| Kidderminster stationLoop Line to Bewdley]] opened in 1878, but the [[Loop Line specification and contract]] can be seen coming into view beneath did not mention a new or extended footbridge at Kidderminster Footbridge. </ref> The footbridge carries a public right One or more of the earlier bridges were of way between Hoo Road (near Kidderminster Harriers Football Club) and Chester Road Southwooden construction, crossing over both hence the bridge is still sometimes referred to locally as 'the wooden bridge'.<ref>SVR lines and the adjacent Souvenir Guide</ref> Peter Fursdon, a former footplateman at [[Kidderminster to Hartlebury main line. There is no direct access between Shed]] in the footbridge and 1950s, recalled it as being called the 'Black Bridge'.<ref>Fursdon, Peter, 'My Railway Journey', SVRNews 215, Autumn 2021, p. The 52</ref> A new bridge also carries a high voltage power cablewas installed in October 2022.

The Network Rail plaque identifies it as Bridge 104, situated at 135 miles 22 chains. It is also described by NR as 'OWW Footbridge 104', OWW being the engineer's line reference ==Recent history and proposed extension==When the line's SVR first reached Kidderminster in [[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton RailwayThe development of Kidderminster Town Station | July 1984]] origin. It has not been allocated a number in the SVR's , [[List of infrastructureSVR(H)]]. Similar plaques bought from BR the last section of the line to Kidderminster from the BR era can still be seen on old boundary at [[Worcester Stourport Road Bridge]] (Bridge 2) , but at that stage had only leased the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which the station was built. The footbridge marked the boundary between the areas that the SVR owned and [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] (Bridge 3)leased.<galleryref>File:Bridge 104 20180408.jpg|Network Rail Bridge NumberSVR News 72</galleryref>

A Following the successful extension of the railway to Kidderminster, an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund was submitted on 30 April 1997, titled the 'SVR Heritage Project' for the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] and other items. This included a proposed extension to the footbridge has existed at this location since it replaced a level crossing in to allow better road and pedestrian access to the 19th centurysite. Earlier bridges were of wooden constructionThe HLF requested a scaled-down application, hence and although the current bridge is extension was still sometimes referred to locally as 'the wooden bridge'included it was ultimately dropped.<ref>SVR Souvenir GuideNews 128-129</ref>

Peter FursdonIn 2000 the SVR raised further funds for that project, a former footplateman sufficient to allow SVR(H) to announce at the 2000 AGM that the extension to the footbridge would go ahead. However, the [[Kidderminster ShedSevern Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]] in the 1950s, recalled it as led to these plans being called the 'Black Bridge'put on hold.<ref>Fursdon, Peter, 'My Railway Journey', SVR News 215, Autumn 2021133, p. 52134</ref>

In <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Kidderminster_Footbridge_20150528.jpg | Kidderminster footbridge (2015) </gallery>The main picture (top right) shows the second new footbridge on the morning of Sunday 16 October, a few hours after it had been lifted into position, looking north towards the station with the bridge's west abutment on the left.<ref group="note">The 2022 picture is taken from a service leaving Platform 1 as it crosses with an incoming service approaching platform 2.</ref> The 2015 photographabove shows the same view of the former bridge. From left to right as seen, the track next to the west abutment allows pedestrian and vehicle access to the [[Diesel Depot]] and [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] south of the bridge. The two lines to the left lead to the platforms at [[Kidderminster]]. To the right is the line leading to the [[Connection to Network Rail | connection to the main line]] and to the [[Carriage Repair Works]]. Beyond the fence is the Network Rail main line from Hartlebury to Kidderminster, originally part of the OW&W.

When the SVR first extended to Kidderminster in [[The development of Kidderminster Town Station <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Bridge 104 20180408.jpg| July 1984]], [[SVR(H)]] bought from BR the last section of the line to Kidderminster from the old boundary at [[Stourport Road Network Rail Bridge]], but at that stage had only leased the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which the station was built. The footbridge marked the boundary between the areas that the SVR owned and leased<ref>SVR News 72Number</refgallery>.

The plaque seen above was located on the east abutment, demolished during replacement of the bridge in 2022. The plaque identifies it as Bridge 104, situated at 135 miles 22 chains. It is also described by NR as 'OWW Footbridge 104', OWW being the engineer's line reference and the line's [[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]] origin. The footbridge has not been allocated a number in the SVR's [[List of infrastructure]]. Similar plaques from the BR era can still be seen on [[Worcester Road Bridge]] (Bridge 2) and [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] (Bridge 3). ==Replacement2022 replacement==Long-mooted plans by Network Rail to replace the footbridge received financial approval in 2021, with works originally programmed from December until March May 2022. The proposed design will be of the new bridge is a single-span constructed in ‘weathering steel’ 'weathering steel' with new concrete abutments at each end. All traces of the existing bridge will disappear including Network Rail's plans, in conjunction with the central brick pier.<ref name=blsep21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep21 Branch Lines, September 2021]</ref> The SVR's aspiration to extend the bridge to give access from the station need to prepare the [[Kidderminster Turntable | turntableBridgnorth MPD]] will remain an aspirationfor the upcoming Roof and Crane project, due led to a lack the start of the SVR's 2022 operating season being delayed until the beginning of fundsApril 2022.<ref>SVR News 201</ref>

The old bridge spans were lifted out and the central pier were demolished in the early morning of Sunday 13 February 2022. Demolition of the west abutment was completed the following day, with the footpath embankment being dug away to allow for the excavation of the pier base. The east abutment was demolished over the weekend of 12-13 March. A 9-minute timelapse video of the removal of the old spans is available on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7xy7c6TbVg YouTube]. The installation of the replacement bridge was delayed and eventually rescheduled for the weekend of 8-9 October 2022. By coincidence, a national rail strike on the Saturday meant that no train movements were taking place on the main line that day. The SVR granted a 'total possession' to the contractors, allowing a large crane to be positioned on the SVR's running lines to carry out the lift in the early hours of Sunday 9 October. However, problems with the paperwork involving the Police escort of the bridge to the Railway meant that only the two sets of end steps were delivered, with the Western steps being installed and the East set placed ready for installation. The rest of the work was delayed until the following weekend. The main span was eventually delivered to site on Friday 14 October. the 40 ton bridge was lifted initially to allow the fitting of the smoke plates, however due to issues lining up the bolt holes, this was abandoned due to time constraints and the bridge was lifted into place at around 5.00am on Sunday 16 October, followed by the eastern steps. Both sets of lifting operations were relayed live on YouTube via the SVR's Railcam. The smoke plates were fitted to the underside of the bridge using a block and tackle suspended from the bridge. MEWPs and a Mobile tower scaffold were used to gain access to the bolted connections. The smoke plates were installed over the Up and Down Main and Up and Down Loop on Wednesday 19 October with the remaining smoke plate over the Exchange Line fitted in the early hours of Sunday 23 October due to the need for the adjacent NR line to be blocked. The fitting of the final smoke plate completed the fitting of the steelwork for the structure. The bridge reopened to the public on Monday 31 October. The main span of the bridge is made from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel weathering steel]. The alloy steel will be allowed to form a patina of rust crust, which will form a protective layer over the steel acting as its protection system. This is now a common construction material for Network Rail bridges as in theory the bridge should never need painting. It is expected to take 5 years for the bridge 'crust' to be 'mature'. The stairs and inside of the parapets are painted holly green. <gallery mode=Referencespacked heights=200px style="text-align:left">Kidderminster_Footbridge_20221009_Railcam.jpg|Lifting of the steps in progress on RailcamKidderminster_Footbridge_20221009_Chris_Baines.jpg|The east side steps cross over the SVR (photo by Chris Baines)</gallery> The SVR's aspiration to extend the bridge to give access from the station to the [[Kidderminster Turntable | turntable]] remains an aspiration, due to a lack of funds<ref name=blsep21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep21 Branch Lines, September 2021]<references /ref>.