Views wanted on Dodington Road traffic calming

Back in September, South Glos Council asked Network Rail to install traffic calming measures on Dodington Road. Highways officials were concerned about reduced visibility caused by Network Rail raising the parapets on the bridge ready for the electrification of the railway line.

The work will be carried out by the council but Network Rail will pay for it. There is a legal process to go through to install speed cushions and the consultation on the proposals has now started. You can view the plans and comment online until 11th January 2017.

View plans for Dodington Road bridge traffic calming this Wednesday

There will be a drop-in event on plans for traffic calming around the Dodington Road railway bridge on Wednesday 5^th October from 4pm to 7pm in the sports classroom at Chipping Sodbury school, Bowling Road.

 In August it became apparent to Network Rail that there would be a reduction in visibility due to the railway bridge works.

Network Rail have now agreed a solution with South Gloucestershire Council with the following features:

• Single speed pillows on the north and south approaches to the bridge
• Road markings to be repainted where necessary
• An additional “SLOW” painted on the road on the south approach
• New solid centre line to be painted on the carriageway
• Post-mounted signs warning of speed pillows

Network Rail will pay for these works, which will require a road closure.  This will then leave them free to erect the parapet extension on the west side of the bridge, which they haven't been able to complete due to the visibility concerns.

Change of diversion route for Dodington Road railway bridge works

The council have listened to the concerns about the diversion route for the Dodington Road railway bridge works that Claire Young raised on behalf of residents at the Area Forum. They asked Network Rail to change the route and it is now confirmed as:

via Bowling Road, Culverhill Road, Rounceval Street, Bowling Hill, Station Road, Link Road, A432 Kennedy Way, A432 Cotswold Road, A432 Smarts Green Roundabout, A432 Badminton Road, A46 Bath Road, Wapley Road, Sodbury Lane and vice versa

Don't forget that there's a drop in for you to ask questions from 4pm – 8pm on Tuesday 15 March in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

At the Forum Claire also raised residents' concerns about how the Dodington Road and Kingrove Lane bridge works would interact. They will overlap, as they will be working on Dodington Road bridge between 23 May and 3 June and Kingrove Lane between 13 April and 8 August. However, both bridges will remain open to pedestrians and (dismounted) cyclists and horse riders. Also traffic flows across Kingrove Lane bridge are expected to be low enough to be marshalled.

Bridge near Chipping Sodbury School - major works coming

Do you use the Dodington Road bridge near Chipping Sodbury School? Do you realise that it will be closed for a couple of weeks later this year?

At the Frome Vale Area Forum, Network Rail gave a brief update on their plans for increasing the height of the parapets on the railway bridge on Dodington Road, near Chipping Sodbury School.

The bridge will be closed to vehicles from 23 May to 5 June 2016 to enable them to safely carry out the work. This will followed by a series of Saturday night closures, on 28th May, 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th June and 2nd July. A pathway will be kept open for pedestrians and cyclists - we don't know about horses yet.

Network Rail are holding a drop-in for you to ask questions from 4pm – 8pm on Tuesday 15 March in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

At the meeting local councillors once again challenged the Network Rail representatives on how the increased height will impact on visibility for motorists and suggested they should explore alternative options. However, subject to approval of the materials for the top section of the parapet extensions they have permission to carry out the work. Claire Young also raised the question of whether it was appropriate for the official diversion to go down Dodington Lane. Officers agreed to look into this.

Wapley bridge replacement timelapse film

Courtesy of Network Rail. Very impressive!

This video shows the replacement of Sergeant's Farm Bridge,  which links Shire Way to Wapley Common and the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.

Wapley Bridge - Network Rail opening event tomorrow (Tuesday 28 April)

With only a day's notice, Network Rail have said that they are having an official opening event at the bridge at 11.00 am tomorrow (Tuesday 28 April) to which local residents are invited.

Dodington Parish Council will organise a community celebration in a few weeks time - we'll let you know.

Wapley footbridge is now open!

The new Sergeant's Farm Bridge opened yesterday evening, and people seem to like it. 

There's a motorbike barrier and a kissing gate, which can be opened fully to let wheelchairs through if you have a RADAR key.

The slope looks manageable for anyone pushing a wheelchair or a buggy.

The span of the temporary bridge across the railway was removed overnight.

Well done to Network Rail's contractors Murphy, and also to all involved from Dodington Parish Council and South Glos Council's Public Rights of Way section.

New Wapley bridge may open any day

It's possible that the new Sergeant's Farm Bridge, which links Shire Way to Wapley Common, may open as soon as tomorrow (Sat 25 April).

If all goes to plan tomorrow, we understand that Murphys have Network Rail's permission to remove the temporary bridge overnight Saturday/Sunday. Fingers crossed...

They have been installing the new boundary fence for the Network Rail compound. At least in the short term the path from the bridge will emerge at the zebra crossing, then people will be able to walk along the short length of tarmac on the edge of Shire Way and then follow the path back into the ashtrack.

It is hoped to organise a modest celebration event in the near future, possibly involving a local school. We'll keep you posted.

Progress in Severn Bridge tolls campaign

Local MP Steve Webb has welcomed the announcement in the Budget of plans to cut tolls when the Severn Bridge returns to public ownership in 2018.  But he has said that his ‘no more tolls’ campaign will continue until the whole charge is scrapped.

You can read more on Steve's website and sign the petition at www.stevewebb.org.uk/nomoretolls

Mud, mud, glorious mud

Network Rail's contractors have caused more damage to the grass than we anticipated, but we're on the case.

As you can see, the big tracked vehicle and the tractor and trailer have been taken further into the mouth of the Lower Meadow than we had anticipated, and the whole entranceway is just mud.

There are also tracks on the near corner of the Common and to the side of the roadway in between.

The big tracked vehicle will be removed from the Common side of the bridge on Saturday night, crossing the railway track to get back to the compound. The tractor and trailer will finish their work on Monday. On Tuesday there should be a pavement sweeper on site to clean the mud off the tarmac roadway.

We are meeting the site manager on Monday morning to discuss the RADAR gate and ground reinstatement. The site manager appreciates that we're not best pleased, while we do understand the practical difficulties of manoeuvring such large vehicles in such tight quarters.

On a related local note, we have also met South Glos this morning about the boggy patches on the "Ashtrack" footpath from Wapley Bridge towards Goldcrest Park. They have measured it up and agreed the necessary works, and they anticipate doing the work in June/July when Network Rail are well clear and the ground has dried up. Some parts of the path will just be topped up, the worst parts will be reconstructed and drainage will be put in at one or two points.

Wapley Bridge - latest update

Residents will be aware that work on the bridge has slowed down dramatically over the the last few weeks. This was due to problems with the finish on some of the precast concrete units, but these have now been solved.

Another difficulty has been how to get the large tracked vehicle (the orange one in the photo) across to the other side of the line, because of the traffic restrictions on Besom Lane.

It is now planned to take the big vehicle across the railway track at night this Saturday (28 Feb).

Work should then proceed quickly. The concrete sections will still be brought round to the other side on a trailer pulled by a large tractor, via Wapley Common as previously planned.

Most of the parking area at the Besom Lane end of the Common will be coned off for the week to allow the tractor and trailer in and out.

Wapley bridge - the next phase

Local people will have seen the concrete path sections being placed on the ramp down from the bridge towards Shire Way. It's now time for the concrete sections to be put in on the other ramp, towards Wapley Common.

This is rather little more complicated, and will involve a 3.4 metre wide caterpillar track vehicle (effectively a digger without the bucket) being brought in along the Common roadway. Steel plates, track mats and bog mats will be used as applicable to spread the load. It will take most of a day to get this large vehicle over the Common into position.

The prefabricated concrete sections will be transported across the Common on a trailer, pulled by a tractor, which will distribute the weight and reduce the risk of damage to the tarmac pathway. The sections will be brought in individually as they are needed.

Dodington Parish Council and Wapley Conservation Group met the contractors Murphy this afternoon and talked through the process in detail. Public safety issues were discussed thoroughly, including what would happen if we have significant snowfall - if the children are off school and come over to Wapley to go sledging, the contractors appreciate that they will have to suspend particular parts of their work.

This phase of the work is expected to take a week to two weeks, starting shortly.

Wapley bridge - side panels added

The side panels were added to the replacement Sergeants Farm Bridge last night, and the very large crane has now left site.

Presumably the next step will be to establish the bridge deck, and then build up the approach ramps.

Work is anticipated to take until some time in March to complete.

First stage of the new Wapley bridge

The support beams for the new bridge were put into place the night before last, so you can now see the increased clearance that will be needed for the overhead electric cables.

The new support beams rest on the century-old supporting piers

Trains are running regularly under the partly constructed bridge

Wapley bridge the morning after the night before

Work on the Wapley bridge came to a halt last night due to the wind and rain - it would have been unsafe to lift the new bridge sections in. We don't yet know the new timing for this but we're guessing next week, maybe New Year's Eve / New Year's Day.

Update 28 December - they've lifted the new bridge beams in! Picture to follow. 

A train thunders past the gap and the crane. Parts of the new bridge are on the lorry on the right.

The gap, with the left-hand support being built up with concrete to the new height.

The support beams for the new bridge waiting on the lorry.

Wapley Bridge up, up and away!

The old bridge across the railway from Shire Way to Wapley Common (Sergeant's Farm Bridge) was craned out this morning (Boxing Day) in a spectacular operation by Network Rail's contractors Murphy and crane operators James Jack.

The 1900s structure was stubborn to the last - it took a man with a sladgehammer to free it from its masonry supports.

Wapley bridge - Network Rail promised a big crane...

... and they weren't joking! The Big Lift should start around 8.30 or 9.00 am on Boxing Day morning.

Work on temporary Wapley footbridge going well

They've erected the two stairways and they are just putting the support for the walkway across today (Sunday 7 Dec). Presumably they'll need some more time without any trains passing to finish the walkway off.

Wapley footbridge update

A quick progress report on Network Rail's work to raise the footbridge in connection with the electrification of the Great Western main line.

On the Wapley side of the bridge they have now laid stone along the green lane to the point where the temporary footbridge will be positioned. On the Shire Way side contractors Murphys have been removing excess soil prior to constructing the temporary bridge. If the track to or from the "ash track" is blocked for lorry movements, they will let you through if you ask - the track isn't closed.

The temporary bridge will go up in the fairly near future, and they will then start work on the accesses to the new bridge. Subject to the weather it is planned to crane the old bridge out and crane the new bridge in over a VERY long day on Boxing Day.

No More Bridge Tolls - sign the petition!

A new campaign by local MP Steve Webb and the local Liberal Democrats to scrap the tolls on the two Severn Bridges has got off to a strong start.   The ‘no more tolls’ campaign is calling for the toll to be scrapped on the two bridges once the construction costs of the bridges have been paid off in a couple of years’ time.  At that point the bridges will return into public ownership and Steve Webb is arguing for remaining maintenance costs to be transferred to the Highways Agency budget so that the tolls can be completely scrapped.   An online petition calling for the tolls to be scrapped attracted over 1,000 signatures within a week, with support coming from both sides of the bridge. Speaking to campaigners, Steve Webb said:

“We have always known that the tolls would be needed to pay for the construction of the two bridges.  But once the bills are paid, there is no longer any need for a separate maintenance charge for the bridges.  We already pay through our taxes for the maintenance of the rest of the highway network, including local motorways, and there is no reason for local people to go on paying for routine maintenance for the bridges"

“We have had a huge positive response to this campaign with people keen to see the tolls scrapped to make it easier for people who live and work on different sides of the bridge, or for those who have family and friends on each side of the Severn.  Scrapping the tolls would be good for local businesses and the local economy and we will be stepping up our campaign in the coming months to get the tolls ended”

To sign the petition, or for more information on the campaign visit
http://nomoretolls-ldthornburyandyate.nationbuilder.com/