Media centre

Wednesday 16 Nov 2005

NETWORK RAIL FOOTBRIDGE WINS COMMENDATION FOR RESTORATION WORK

Region & Route:

| Southern

Restoration work on a Victorian footbridge in Bognor Regis has earned Network Rail a commendation from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Bersted Crossing, a wrought iron and lattice girder structure built in 1890, was nominated as part of ICE’s annual Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Awards (HBIA). Network Rail decided to restore the bridge after receiving requests from local residents. As the bridge was structurally sound, engineers chose to return the original bridge to its former glory, rather than replace it. Andrew Munden, Network Rail’s route director says: “This commendation is well deserved for a project that was completed within eight weeks and with no disruption to train services. I’m sure local people will agree with me that the re-vamped bridge has been sympathetically restored and has recovered its old charm!” Work to the bridge, which was funded and project managed by Network Rail, included: removing layers of paint built up over 100 years, replacing timber decking, applying a new protective paint system and repainting the structure in the colours of Southern, which runs the local trains. Professor Roland Paxton, chairman of HBIA, commented: “The 18 entrants for the award this year were tremendously strong and I’d like to congratulate them all. The awards are important because they recognize and encourage excellence and innovation in historic civil engineering”.