This
bridge crosses a cul-de-sac, leading to about six properties beyond the
Downside / Cotswold of the bridge. There is no other form of access which has led to bridge repairs sitting within the "too difficult" pile for a while.
The Cotswold side parapet of this bridge is in worse condition that that Malvern including damage to the pilaster, as shown above. It was decided that the non-deck works could be undertaken by multi-discipline / multi-skilled volunteer workforce.
The first stage was to Drill
out / remove the rivets where existing vertical members attach parapets to the
main girder. Then to provide temporary replacement with bolts. This was undertaken during a possession in July.
It's great to see that something is being done to refurbish the parapets (which is the part that passengers see) Once the screen are returned looking as good as the other bridges in the vicinity, it will be a vast improvement. In view of the impossibility of providing alternative road access to the affected properties, I can understand why this bridge wasn't repaired at the same time as 32 as was originally proposed. I presume that the height restriction notice will have to be replaced with one showing both Imperial and metric values. I look forward to travelling over the bridge once the parapet repairs have been completed. It's good that the capabilities of the volunteer staff are able to be utilised to give them more varied work as well as saving the railway money.
ReplyDeleteA Pettifer
Ashley, It is good that we are using the volunteers for this work. We have been trying to do that for some time and now our new Infrastructure Manager is in place, she has managed to organise this and other works.
DeleteRegarding the height warning sign, that is up to Gloucestershire County Council as it is a public highway.
John Fancote
It's so good that GWSR volunteers have been able to do these repairs, using GWSR plant (the Road Rail Vehicle), thus saving the railway money, which can now be spent where it is more desperately needed!
ReplyDeleteThe increasing range of skills available from GWSR volunteers - e.g. construction of brand-new riveted station canopies, from scratch - is saving a great amount of money, as well as making plausible projects that would otherwise be out of reach, financially.