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Monday 19 Dec 2016

New footbridge installed over the railway in Hertfordshire in a step to improve safety

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Pedestrians and cyclists who cross the railway at Trinity Lane, Waltham Cross can now do so more safely, thanks to the installation of a new footbridge.

Network Rail decided to close the crossing used by up to 700 pedestrians a day, following nine near misses since the beginning of the year and where trains pass at 85mph. The footbridge is in place as alternative to using the footpath crossing, which is now closed to pedestrians, creating a safer and more reliable railway as part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “Pedestrians now have a much safer way of crossing the railway at Trinity Lane, by using the footbridge instead of the level crossing. After reports of nine near misses since the beginning of the year, closing it to pedestrians and cyclists and building a footbridge was the only option in order to improve safety here as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan." 

From now on, the pedestrian wicket gates at the level crossing will be closed and the crossing keeper will control the opening and closing of the vehicular gates for cars, horses and pedestrians with limited mobility who can’t use the bridge. Those with wheelbarrows using the nearby allotments can also use these gates.

Work to build the bridge began in November, with two stairwells being constructed in the first weekend (5 and 6 November). The main bridge span was lifted in during the following weekend (12 and 13 November) and the work took place while the railway was already closed for track renewals, to minimise disruption to passengers. 

Further work will take place over the next few months to provide permanent signage and way-finding markings and additional screening on the bridge.