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Thursday 12 May 2016

Chipping Sodbury residents reminded of Dodington Road bridge closure for railway electrification work

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Residents in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, are reminded that Dodington Road bridge will be temporarily closed from Monday 23 May to enable Network Rail to carry out work in preparation for the arrival of a new fleet of electric trains.

As part of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers, the ‘orange army’ will be raising the sides of the bridge and installing anti-climb coping stones. This improvement work will provide a barrier between the bridge’s users and the overhead high voltage electric lines that are required to power the new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to run underneath.

As the bridge is too narrow to safely accommodate traffic, pedestrians and the team carrying out the work, a temporary road closure is required to carry out part of the upgrade. The bridge will therefore be closed to motorists from Monday 23 May until Sunday 5 June.

To minimise disruption for residents as much as possible, part of the temporary closure has been timed to coincide with half-term when the road is much quieter and the remaining aspects of the work will be completed during a series of four Saturday night closures from 10pm until 8am, starting on 11 June and finishing at the beginning of July. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout the duration of the upgrade.

Andy Haynes, Network Rail’s project director for the west of England, said: “I’d like to thank the local community in advance for their patience and understanding while we carry out this improvement work. 

“The work at Dodington Road bridge is an essential part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and will pave the way for electrification and the benefits this will bring for residents. These benefits include faster trains with more seats and more legroom, and less noise and cleaner air for those who live close to the railway.”

The diversion route for motorists during the temporary closure is as follows: Bowling Road - Culverhill Road - Rounceval Street - Bowling Hill - Station Road - Link Road - A432 Kennedy Way - A432 Cotswold Road - A432 Smarts Green Roundabout - A432 Badminton Road - A46 Bath Road - Wapley Road - Sodbury Lane.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the Great Western Electrification Programme

Electrification will transform the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity. Electrifying this part of the Great Western route will enhance 235 miles of one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways, better connecting major towns and cities across southern England and South Wales. This investment, as well as the introduction of a fleet of new trains, will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, cleaner and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

For more information about the Great Western Electrification Programme, visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/