A vital bridge replacement project has taken a major step forward, following six days of intensive work over the main line between London, Hertfordshire, Essex, and Cambridgeshire.
Network Rail is replacing the central spans of Nazeing New Road bridge in Broxbourne during a four-month road closure, but the main work over the railway took place between 13 and 18 January.
Trains couldn’t run under the bridge while this critical phase of the works was carried out, so there were rail replacement buses on some routes and alternative travel options for other journeys.
Engineers from Network Rail’s contractor, J Murphy and Sons, successfully achieved a number of important project milestones during the six days. In this time they:
- dug out the road over the central part of the bridge
- lifted out the structure of the old bridge
- put in the structure of the new bridge
Although the railway reopened on time on Thursday 19 January, the bridge remains closed to road users until Sunday 30 April. This is because there is still lots of work for the engineers to do, including:
- pouring, curing and waterproofing the new concrete bridge deck
- putting the road and pavement back
- reinstalling the gas, electricity and internet connections that run across the bridge (these are currently redirected over a temporary structure)
- strengthening other parts of the bridge, which will help to avoid the need for additional major work in future
The work is vital to keep passengers, drivers and pedestrians safe, and to avoid a more disruptive closure at short notice. Despite remedial works being carried out between 2010-14, the old bridge continued to deteriorate and reached the end of its useful life.
The new bridge is designed to last 120 years.
Kate Snowden, Network Rail Anglia head of communications, said: “I’m really sorry that this work has disrupted passengers over the last six days and I’d like to thank them for bearing with us. Local residents and road users are also affected by the ongoing project and I’d like to thank them too. The condition of the bridge meant that a replacement was urgently needed and this work will help people have safe and reliable journeys for many decades to come.”
Other engineering work on the West Anglia main line will be taking place on the weekends of 21/22 January and 28/29 January. Passengers have been advised to check before they travel.
Image credit: Network Rail
