Media centre

Tuesday 24 Nov 2009

WINCHESTER BRIDGES REBUILT IN £71M FREIGHT UPGRADE

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Three road bridges over the railway in the Winchester area are being rebuilt during the first half of 2010 as part of a £71m project designed to remove up to 50,000 lorries a year from the region’s roads and provide a cheaper, quicker and more practical way of transporting goods around the country.

The £8m upgrade of bridges at St Cross (B3335), Andover Road and Stoke Charity Road is required to allow bigger 9' 6" or high-cube containers to be transported efficiently by rail from Associated British Ports' (ABP) Port of Southampton across the country, making a valuable contribution to the local economy and helping Britain compete better in the global marketplace.  The canopy at Winchester station will also need to be trimmed back as part of the scheme.

Richard O’Brien, Network Rail’s route director for Wessex, said: “Rail can provide a cheaper, greener and more practical way of transporting freight compared with road.  This project aims to increase the amount of freight transported from Southampton by rail, which will help reduce carbon emissions and road congestion as well as delivering long-term economic benefits for the south east region.”

“We have to replace these bridges to achieve the many benefits of transporting freight by rail rather than road.  Where possible we have made the new structures better than the ones we removed, for example by adding cycle tracks or improved footpaths.  There will be some disruption while we carry out this important work but we can assure motorists and rail users that we aim keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

Councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for environment at Hampshire county council said: "These are essential works which will, I hope, bring about the long term result of taking a number of freight lorries off the roads. These works have also presented opportunities for the county and city Councils to ask Network Rail to make some improvements to the footpaths on St Cross Road and Andover Road and I'm pleased to say that these will be widened where possible. There will, however, be unavoidable disruption in the short term for people living in and coming into Winchester.

"We are working closely with Network Rail to manage diversions and to ensure the works are completed as quickly as possible. Network Rail has assured us that it will be taking all possible steps to publicise the disruption in advance in order that people can plan their journeys accordingly.

"We have also co-ordinated works with utility companies and re-scheduled our own roadworks to minimise further disruption and to avoid subsequent road closures."

Specific work at the sites will include:

ST CROSS:

The B3335 will be closed from 4 January to 31 March 2010. 

A new bridge deck will be installed above the existing one so that the road can be re-opened while the old bridge is demolished, keeping disruption to a minimum for road users.  A shared footpath and cycle track will also be installed across the new structure making it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

A temporary footbridge will be installed for the duration of the work to allow pedestrian to cross the railway.

There are a number of utilities which run through the existing structure.  Work to redirect these will start in November 2009.

There will be some disruption to train services from 3-10 April 2010 while the major demolition and installation work takes place.

ANDOVER ROAD:

Andover Road bridge is scheduled to be closed from early April to mid July 2010. 

A major water main and other utilities run through Andover Road bridge which will need to be re-directed by the utility companies prior to work starting on the bridge itself. 

A cycle track will also be created on the new structure improving safety for cyclists.  A temporary footbridge will be installed to enable residents to cross the railway. 

There will be some rail disruption between 24 April - 8 May while the major demolition and installation work takes place.

 

STOKE CHARITY

Stoke Charity Road bridge will be closed from 6 April 2010 - 30 July 2010.

The new structure has been designed to incorporate a new footpath, making it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross the railway. 

A temporary footbridge will be installed so residents can continue to cross the railway while the work is carried out.

There are a number of utilities which run through the existing structure.  Work to redirect these will start in March 2010.

Rail services will face some disruption between 17 April 2010 and 1 May 2010 while the major demolition and installation work takes place.