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Wednesday 7 Apr 2004

TEMPORARY CAR PARK & BUS INTERCHANGE - CONSTRUCTION COMMENCES -

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail this week started work to construct the temporary car park and bus interchange at Manningtree station.  The temporary facilities will be open in time for the Ipswich tunnel closure on July 11 2004. The first stage of the project is to alter the road layout on the A137.  This will create a right-hand turning lane into the car park, ensuring that south-bound traffic is not adversely delayed.  The second stage will see work in the field commence. Both the car park and bus interchange are temporary and therefore the surface we will construct will be easy to remove in September.  A protective sheet, like a tent’s groundsheet, will be placed over the land and crushed aggregate followed by a tarmac surface installed. Mark Livock, Network Rail Project Director said: “Behind the scenes a great deal of planning has been taking place to get these facilities built.  We are conscious that the closure of Ipswich tunnel will add time to passengers’ journeys so the bus interchange is crucial in the eight-week project.  Starting the construction in April will give us plenty of time to get the area in good workable order for Sunday 11 July 2004.” The car park and coach interchange will be constructed on the north side of the station.  There will be a one-way drop down and pick up point for coaches and pedestrian crossings with stairway access on to the Ipswich-bound platform. The land used for both the car park and coach interchange will be returned to its former use after the tunnel reopens.  - more - Construction – 2 Mr Livock continued: “There will be a temporary car park with around 200 spaces available during the closure, but we would still like to urge passengers to use the alternative coach and bus services.  They are scheduled to link in with the train departures and we are confident that the alternative services will be the best travel option for passengers.”