An infamous “bridge to nowhere” could finally be completed after six years of inactivity.

Merton Council has announced a £489,115 grant from Transport for London to improve the Wandle Trail after a successful bid by Merton, Wandsworth, Sutton and Croydon councils, the Wandle Valley Park Trust and transport charity Sustrans.

As part of its investment in the trail, the council has promised part of the grant will be used to finally complete work to the infamously named “bridge to nowhere” that stands in the Wandle Meadow Nature Park in Colliers Wood.

Bewley Bridge was half built in 2007 as part of a commitment by developers Bewley Homes, now Wimpey Homes, but was never finished.

Every year since, members of the Colliers Wood Residents’ Association (CWRA) have held a regular “unfinished” party complete with unfinished cake, unfinished poetry and unfinished songs to mark the lack of progress made on the bridge.

Keith Spears, chairman of the CWRA, said: “That unfinished bridge is the unfinished link in the Wandle trail.

“It has been unfinished for about six years so I am delighted they have found funding to do it because it has been a cause of embarrassment all around.

“We are still going to have our unfinished party just to keep it on the radar – but hopefully it will be our last.”

Subject to planning approval, work to complete the bridge is due to start in November and completed by spring 2014.

The money will also be used to upgrade pedestrian and cycle paths along the Wandle Trail linking up a series of green spaces throughout the Wandle Valley Regional Park.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, said: “We have worked consistently as a borough and through the Wandle Valley partnership to improve the quality of walking and cycling facilities along the Wandle and to complete the Bewley Bridge.

“It is very pleasing this joint application, which has also been championed by the Wandle Valley Park Trust, of which I am a trustee, has succeeded and that residents will now be able to take greater advantage of this unique and beautiful pathway.”