An exclusive peek under the bridge for our readers! The photographs below were taken from high above the road, up on the scaffolding platform, behind the cocoon.

Station road leading flange

The above picture shows bridge strike damage to the Broadway village side. The girders were originally riveted; after the 1975 strike, a repair was effected with a patch attached by bolts. In the picture you can see that not only has the repair been attacked again, but some of the bolts have been sheared off. The striking object was stiff and narrow, almost certainly an arm from a JCB or 360 being carried on a lorry.

Centre of the bridge

The amazing thing is that there is also damage in the centre. The arm striking the bridge apparently bounced down, then back up for a second strike.

The bridge with prop supports in place.

In the above picture you can see damage at both the leading edge, and in the middle. Also visible is the extra plate on the left that was bolted on after the 1975 repair.

Contractors George Law and Tramblast discuss the day's work.

The good news is that Tramblast have nearly completed shotblasting the whole bridge.Depending on the weather, there are last minute decisions, but the intention was to start primering the structure today. Affected areas will then be cut out, patched, re-shotblasted, and also primered. Then the whole bridge will be painted (again subject to weather conditions).

Broadway end of the bridge from underneath.

The above two pictures show the effect of the shotblasting - everything is clean and ready for the primer. At 16.30 when we left the contractor was still busy, so it may be that the primer is already on as you read this.

Our thanks to George Law for the first three pictures.