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Tuesday 21 Mar 2006

WALTHAM FOREST BRIDGE BOOST

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Passengers travelling in and around Waltham Forest are to benefit from Network Rail’s £5 million makeover of ten railway bridges in the area, which starts next month. The scheme will take place in two phases between April and October and will completely refurbish ten bridges, which date back to the early 1900s. The bridges carry the railway between Walthamstow Queens Road Station and Wanstead Park Station on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. Route Director, Jon Wiseman, said: “Network Rail is committed to investing in the railway network to ensure its safety and reliability. This major investment in these bridges will secure their future and bring long term benefits to both rail passengers and local people.” The bridges on Lea Bridge Road, Lansdowne Road and Ramsay Road will be strengthened to bring them up to modern standards and avoid the need for speed restrictions on this section of railway in future. This will be achieved by adding additional cross girders to the bridges and strengthening other parts of the steel structures. Seven more bridges on Pevensey Road, Vansittart Road, Capworth Street, Hainault Road, Sansom Road, Montague Road and Thorpe Road will also benefit from extensive renovation work including: complete repainting; removal of all graffiti and litter; improved drainage; and pigeon-proofing measures to improve conditions on the road and pavements beneath. Cllr David Blunt, Waltham Forest Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: "I am delighted that this work is being done to make rail travel more reliable for local people. I thank Network Rail for the consideration being given to the local environment and preventing the blight of pigeon-nesting, graffiti and neglect." For safety reasons, each road will be closed or partially closed to traffic while work is carried out on the bridges and a full traffic management scheme and diversionary routes will be in place. The work has been scheduled in two phases to cause minimal disruption to local residents: Phase 1 - Saturday 1 April to Monday 10 July 

• Work will be carried out on Lansdowne Road, Ramsay Road, Pevensey Road, Vansittart Road and Lea Bridge Road bridges

  Phase 2 - Monday 10 July to Monday 23 October

• Work will be carried out on Capworth Street, Hainault Road, Sansom Road, Montague Road and Thorpe Road

  Soundproofing measures will be used throughout the work to completely encapsulate the bridges, reducing the impact and noise on local residents. The historic mural on Lea Bridge Road advertising the Bakers Arms pub will also be renewed to help maintain this local landmark. Lineside neighbours in the vicinity of the planned work will shortly be contacted with full project details and a 24 hour helpline will be available throughout the work.  Jon Wiseman added: “This work has been carefully planned over several years, and every effort has been taken to reduce the inconvenience caused. I would like to thank local people in advance for their patience while we carry out these essential works and hope they will benefit from the huge improvements we are making to these bridges.”