Take a virtual tour of the new Thames bridge

Talk of a permanent bridge spanning the Thames from Walton-On-Thames and Shepperton in Surrey has been on the drawing board since the 80s, but now it seems, with the help of a virtual model currently on display at the Heart shopping centre, visitors can see what the bridge would look like after completion and put in their two cents to representatives there to field questions and enquiries.

The simulator will allow people to place themselves at various points around the periphery of the bridge and see exactly whether or not the thing will be eye candy or an eyesore. The proposal for a permanent structure rises from the two non-permanent bridges that exist there already, one for cars and one for pedestrians.

This new plan involves a priority T-junction on the south side of the river after a proposal featuring a cloverleaf road design was rejected by local government. A decision from local bodies on whether or not the plans will go ahead as they are now will be tendered in February of next year.