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Thursday 5 Jun 2025

Community invited to find out more about vital bridge repairs in Langport, Somerset

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is inviting the community to find out more about vital work planned for the railway bridge that crosses the A378 in Langport, Somerset, this summer.

Teams are due to start on site in July to add new steelwork to the underside of the bridge to keep the Castle Cary to Taunton line running safely and reliably.

The structure, which was reconstructed in the 1970s, will also be grit-blasted, cleaned, given a new coat of paint and new anti-collision markings.

So that the work can be completed safely, the A378 will be closed at the bridge from 4 to 31 August, with a signed diversion route in place. The work is due to be finished by early October.

The community is being invited to find out more at an event on Wednesday 11 June at Langport and Huish Sports and Social Club, Eastover, TA10 9RZ. Residents can drop in anytime between 4.30pm and 7.30pm when members of the Network Rail team and representatives of contractor Morgan Sindall will be on hand to answer any questions.

Network Rail principal portfolio manager Dan Parkes said: “The bridge has now reached an age where we need to carry out essential repairs to make sure rail passengers and road users can continue to travel over and under it safely.

"We appreciate the road closure will be inconvenient for the residents of Langport, however it’s essential and unavoidable to undertake this vital work.

"We’ve worked closely with the town and county councils to plan the timing, avoiding the school term-time and the busy run-up to Christmas. We’ll make sure that pedestrians can continue to walk underneath to reach local amenities while the work is being carried out.

“We’d encourage anyone who’d like to find out more to come and chat to us on 11 June.”

Morgan Sindall project manager Karl Butler said: “To keep the duration of the project as short as we can, we’ll be working around the clock so that those living close to the bridge are inconvenienced for the least time possible.

“Inevitably, work of this nature will create noise and disturbance but we will minimise disruption as much as possible throughout the project by using the most efficient machinery and we’ll be closely monitoring the site for noise and dust.”