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Monday 13 Jun 2022

Network Rail issues reminder of critical repairs to railway bridge in Bath starting next week

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is reminding residents and motorists of critical repair work to Claverton Street railway bridge that is due to begin next week to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway through the city of Bath.

Work on Claverton Street railway bridge – which sits above the A36 at Churchill Bridge roundabout to the south of Bath city centre – will begin on Monday 20 June, lasting until Sunday 16 October. To minimise disruption to road users and rail passengers, the refurbishment will take place at night.

Between the hours of 6am and 7pm daily, the road will be open as usual and train services will remain unaffected throughout.

The bridge, located just outside Bath Spa station, carries train services in and out of the city and needs extensive steel and brickwork repairs so that passengers can continue to experience safe and reliable journeys.

Around 17,500 tourists, commuters and visitors travel by train to Bath Spa station every day and once this work is complete, the lifespan of this vital bridge will be extended by at least 25 years.

As part of this £800,000 project, Network Rail’s team of engineers will be working throughout the night to grit blast the structure (a process which involves forcibly propelling abrasive material against a surface at high pressure), requiring access both beneath and on top of the bridge as well as alongside the railway tracks. Once the entire bridge has been grit blasted, the metalwork will be restored before a protective layer of paint is applied. The brickwork on the sides and support structures of the bridge will also be repaired.

To ensure that these repairs can be carried out while maintaining the safety of rail and road users as well as pedestrians, the A36 at Churchill Bridge roundabout will need to be closed to all eastbound and southbound traffic from 7pm to 6am between 20 June and 16 October, seven days a week. Between 20 August and 9 October, Network Rail’s engineers will only be working beside the railway tracks each Saturday evening, meaning the road closure on Saturdays will differ, lasting between midnight and 7am.

During this period of work, a diversion route, approved by Bath and North East Somerset Council, will be in place as follows:

• All northbound traffic including access to the A4 London Road, A46 and M4 motorway will travel via Green Park Road and Charles Street to Queen Square, and then via Gay Street and George Street onto the A4 The Paragon.
• All eastbound traffic including access to Bathwick, Bathampton and Warminster, will travel via the A3039 Dorchester Street and Manvers Street to North Parade before turning left onto the A36 Pulteney Road (South).
• All southbound traffic including access to the A367 Wellsway to Radstock and Midsomer Norton will travel via the A3039 Dorchester Street and Manvers Street to North Parade before turning right onto the A36 Pulteney Road (South).
• All Westbound traffic towards Keynsham and Bristol leaving the city centre will either follow the southbound diversion before travelling onwards via the A36 Lower Bristol Road, or travel out of Bath via the A4 Upper Bristol Road.

Network Rail has worked closely with the Council and other businesses and stakeholders in the city to identify any largescale events that would be significantly impacted by this work and has adapted its programme and agreed to stand down work on a number of dates to accommodate these events; including the Michael Bublé concert (15-16 July), Bath Boules (22-24 July), and the Fantastic Food Festival (29-31 July).

Michael Contopoulos, Network Rail’s Project Director, said: “The Claverton Street railway bridge is a significant piece of rail infrastructure that carries around 17,500 rail passengers in, out and through the city of Bath each day. Now it needs important repairs to extend its lifespan and structural integrity.

“To carry out this work safely, we will need to close the road underneath the bridge; I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for any disruption this will cause to road users.

“We are aware of the impact a traffic diversion will have in such a busy city centre location and have limited our working to overnight shifts to minimise disruption to road users as far as possible. Some of our work may be noisy at times; I apologise if any nearby residents are affected.

“We will be doing all we can to complete these repairs as quickly, quietly and safely as possible, and we would like to thank residents, businesses and road users in advance for their patience and understanding.”

To find out more about Network Rail’s work to maintain and repair Claverton Street bridge, please visit www.networkrail.co.uk/claverton

Local residents and businesses with any queries or concerns regarding the work taking place are encouraged to contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline (03457 11 41 41) or visit www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus