Media centre

Wednesday 16 Sep 2015

Work starts on site to replace Ufton Nervet level crossing with a bridge

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail’s plan to improve safety at Ufton Nervet level crossing reached an important milestone this week as work started to prepare the site for the replacement of the level crossing with a bridge.

The building of a bridge will completely separate road and rail traffic at this site, which has experienced several incidents of deliberate misuse following a collision between a train and a car on the crossing in 2004 in which seven people died and 71 people were injured.

The preparatory work currently taking place involves moving the location of the memorial garden from the south to the north side of the crossing to make it more accessible once the new bridge has opened.

The memorial garden is dedicated to those who died and those affected by the 2004 collision. As well as being more accessible, its new location will also mean it joins the memorial garden dedicated to Mr Stanley Martin, the driver of the train.

Daniel Collins, Network Rail’s scheme sponsor for the project said: “This is an important step towards our goal of improving the safety of passengers and the wider public at Ufton Nervet.

“Replacing the level crossing with a bridge will completely separate road and rail traffic at this site, significantly reducing the risk of a tragedy, like the 2004 collision, happening again.”

‘Tree World Services’ is carrying out the work on behalf of Network Rail to move the location of the memorial garden. This company is located near to the crossing and its staff assisted the emergency services in the aftermath of the 2004 collision. As a result, they feel very connected to the work to replace the crossing and were keen to be involved in the project.

Construction of the new bridge will start in early 2016 and will take approximately a year to complete. During this time a dedicated community liaison officer from the construction team will be available to answer residents’ enquiries and keep them updated on the bridge’s progress.

ENDS