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Friday 13 Jun 2014

Network Rail to begin £10m complete replacement of Tennison Road bridge, Croydon

Region & Route:

| Southern

Tennison Road bridge, near Norwood Junction, Croydon, will be closing from June 16 until spring 2015 to allow Network Rail to completely replace it with a bigger and better structure.

The bridge, which has spanned the main lines from London Bridge and Victoria to East Croydon since 1922, has to be replaced as it has reached the end of its life.

A main span of the new structure, which will be hydraulically pushed into place next Christmas, will be approximately 3.5 metres wider to allow for wider footways, safer cycling and a wider carriageway. It is due to open for public use in spring next year.

Network Rail’s enhancements manager for the South East, Mike Smith, said: “The old structure is past its use-by date and this is a great opportunity for us and Croydon Council to put something better in its place.

“We have already built a temporary footbridge so there will still be pedestrian access across the railway and it will also allow vital services, such as electricity, gas and water, to continue undisrupted while the old bridge is demolished in the coming months.

“We thank drivers and residents in the area for bearing with us as we do this vital work.”

Councillor Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment at Croydon Council, which is part-funding the replacement, said: “This is an important and necessary undertaking.

“Unfortunately, it appears there will be an overlap of these planned works with the current closure of Spring Lane bridge, which is due to be fully reopened in late July.

“However, the long-term benefits to local people and all who use the Tennison Road bridge outweigh the unavoidable inconvenience they experience while the replacement work is carried out.”

Demolition of the bridge will be a gradual process and there will be some changes to train services at various weekends during the autumn to allow for the safe removal of the existing bridge.

The main span of the new bridge will be pushed into place in one piece over Christmas and Boxing Day this year.

The bridge replacement will be carried out by contractors Graham Construction. For more information and contact details see www.graham.co.uk/tennisonroadbridge