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Thursday 24 Nov 2022

Road closure to replace bridge next to Broxbourne station from early 2023 will benefit road users for next 120 years

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail and its contractor, J Murphy and Sons Ltd, will be replacing the central spans of Nazeing New Road bridge from early January, requiring a four-month road closure and changes to train services.  

The existing bridge sits over the West Anglia Main Line railway that carries trains between London and Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

The condition and age of the bridge requires a regular maintenance and inspection regime to keep it safe for road and rail users. Despite remedial works being carried out between 2010-14, the bridge has continued to deteriorate and has reached the end of its useful life. It now needs to be fully replaced to avoid prolonged closure of this busy road across the railway. The new bridge is being designed to last 120 years.

The road will be closed from Tuesday 3 January 2023 until Sunday 30 April 2023 to allow the bridge replacement work to be completed. During this time, pedestrian and vehicle diversionary routes will be signposted.

The main work to remove the existing spans and install new ones will take place from Friday 13 to Wednesday 18 January inclusive. During these six consecutive days train services will be suspended and Greater Anglia has arranged rail replacement buses and ticket acceptance to allow passengers to complete their journeys.

Passengers should check before they travel through the Greater Anglia and National Rail websites, as well as other journey planning apps.

Gas, electricity and internet connections that run across the bridge have already been redirected over a temporary structure. This work was carried out during single lane closures earlier this year. These services will be installed through the new structure which will be done during the full road closure. No impact on local people’s use of these services is expected.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “I’m sorry for the disruption that this work will cause to residents and rail users but if we don’t do this work now, it could lead to a much more disruptive closure at short notice. We’ve been working closely with community groups, local councils and schools to keep them informed of our plans and reduce the impact of the closure. Replacing the bridge will enable us to maintain a safe and reliable route for motorists, pedestrians and rail users for years to come.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused while our trains are unable to run under the Nazeing New Road bridge and will be doing everything we can to help customers continue their journeys during this period.”

Rail replacement and ticket acceptance information for Greater Anglia passengers:

Hertford East to London Liverpool Street

On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line. Passengers should make their own way to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate. Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern services.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line, so passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne for the rail replacement service to Waltham Cross. From Waltham Cross there will be four trains per hour to London Liverpool Street. Passengers can also make their own way to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate. Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern services.

Hertford East to stations north of Broxbourne including Cambridge/Stansted Airport

On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line. Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service to Bishop’s Stortford where they can board trains for Cambridge, Cambridge North and Stansted Airport, or towards Harlow Town, calling at all stations. The replacement bus service will be very limited, so passengers are advised to find alternative travel arrangements.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line. Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service to Harlow Town and all stations to Audley End/Stansted Airport.

Stansted Airport to and from London Liverpool Street

On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, passengers travelling to and from Stansted Airport should go via Cambridge on Great Northern services between Cambridge and London King’s Cross. Tickets will be accepted. Greater Anglia trains will operate between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. London Underground will also accept tickets for travel between London King’s Cross and London Liverpool Street and also on the Victoria Line between Tottenham Hale and London King’s Cross.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, airport passengers should take the rail replacement bus to/from Waltham Cross (direct bus with no stops) where a train service to/from London Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale, will operate all weekend. Rail replacement will be very limited.

From London Liverpool Street to Cambridge and intermediate stations

On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be up to four trains per hour between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, where there will be onward bus connections to Broxbourne and Bishop’s Stortford. From Bishop’s Stortford, there will be onward train services to Cambridge North or Harlow Town, calling at all stations. Rail replacement buses will be very limited.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be four trains per hour between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, where there will be onward bus connections to Audley End calling at Broxbourne, Harlow Town and then all stations to Audley End. From Audley End, a train service will operate to Cambridge North.

Between London Liverpool Street and Roydon

On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses to/from Roydon. Passengers should travel via local bus to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate. Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern. Passengers may also make their own way to Broxbourne from where the rail replacement bus service to Waltham Cross will operate.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses to/from Roydon. Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service.

Between Cambridge/Stansted Airport and Cheshunt

From Friday 13 until Wednesday 18 January, passengers will need to travel to Waltham Cross by Greater Anglia train service where they can pick up the rail replacement service.

On the weekdays this rail replacement service will operate to Bishop’s Stortford for a train service to Stansted Airport or Cambridge North. The rail replacement bus service will be limited, so passengers are advised to find alternative travel arrangements.

On the weekends the rail replacement operation is extended to Stansted Airport or Audley End for a train service to Cambridge North.