Rotterdam city councillors have backed plans for a new €1.3 billion bridge over the Maas river which will have a key role in the development of a new 30,000 residential district in the east of the city.

The bridge, the fourth over the river, will offer a new crossing to pedestrians, cyclists, cars and trams and will link the Veranda and De Esch districts of the port city.

The redevelopment plan also includes a new railway station next to the Kuip football stadium.

The plan was opposed by most opposition parties who said building a new bridge for cars is a bad move. “We want to think ahead, not take the car as the starting point,” GroenLinks councillor Astrid Kockelkoren said during Thursday evening’s bad tempered debate, the AD reported.

Rotterdam itself will pay some €434 million of the cost, with the rest coming from the metropolitan region and national government. If all goes according to plan, the bridge will be completed in 2033.