THE second phase of improvement work is set to start at Bedlam Bridge, near March, this month.

The first phase of the work was completed in December at a cost of £85,000 - and Cambridgeshire County Council will invest a further £75,000 in the second stage.

The campaign for safety barriers at the bridge began in 2008 after the death of nine-year-old Charlotte Walker, who died when the car she was travelling in left the road and plunged into the water.

Graham Chappell, founder of the Fenland Road Safety Campaign (Charlotte’s Way) helped to raise thousands of pounds to joint-fund the work with the county council.

The existing bridge, which dates back to the 1960s, does not have strengthened parapets to stop vehicles entering the water. A scheme has been designed to install a safety fence in front of the bridge railings within the footway and verge.

Work begins on phase two on March 18 and is expected to take around four weeks. Accident damage on the bridge will also be repaired at the same time.

Councillor Tony Orgee, county council cabinet member for community infrastructure, said: “By working together with the road safety campaign we were able to find the money to pay for this important safety improvement work at Bedlam Bridge.

“I am delighted that the project is nearing completion and will help protect all road users on this junction.”

During phase two, traffic will be controlled by temporary signals operating between 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday.