WORK NEARS COMPLETION ON TAUNTON BRIDGE: Taunton bridge gets new lease of life

Wednesday 14 Sep 2011

WORK NEARS COMPLETION ON TAUNTON BRIDGE

Region & Route:
| Wales & Western: Western
| Wales & Western

A landmark Taunton bridge is a step closer to fully reopening after improvement work on half its structure was completed.

Network Rail is spending £300,000 on the project which will see the bridge repainted and installed with anti-pigeon nets to ensure it is clean and well-maintained in the future.

Work will now focus on the second half of the bridge after the first phase of improvements was completed over the weekend.

The bridge, on Kingston Road, is a gateway into the town and Network Rail is liaising with Project Taunton on the scheme as part of the wider re-generation of the area.

Improvements have been carried out on one half of the bridge at a time to minimise disruption. One lane of the road has remained open at all times and pedestrian access has been maintained throughout. This will be mirrored for the second phase of the scheme.

Kimberley Wilson, scheme project manager for Network Rail said: “The bridge is an important part of the town and we are working with Project Taunton on its restoration. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact the work is having on the travelling public whilst ensuring it is completed as quickly and safely as possible. The scaffolding will now be transferred to the other half of the structure and we will continue our work to fully restore the bridge.”

Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed in November.

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