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Engineering experts outlined details of the Chislehurst Road Bridge re-construction project last week at a meeting for residents associations, schools and other local groups.
HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction, the contractors carrying out the bridge re-build, presented an overview of the planned works and explained the construction phases of the re-build in detail. The council's highways and traffic engineers outlined the traffic management measures that will be in place during the year long re-build project.
"There is no alternative to rebuilding the bridge. The bridge is structurally unsafe and therefore poses a risk of collapsing onto the busy railway below. What we are doing is rebuilding the bridge in the quickest time possible. Working with our contractor we have managed to cut half a year off the original timescale for the works, which are now expected to take 12 instead of 18 months. This in itself is an achievement and will make a significant difference to all those who may be affected by the reconstruction of the bridge", said Councillor Smith, Executive Councillor for the Environment.
"This project is especially challenging because of the bridge's position over a live rail network. But, there is no doubt that it needs to be done. We are therefore working closely with the Council to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum and that the bridge is rebuilt to a very high standard, able to withstand over a hundred years of use", said Jon Elliott, Site Manager for HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction.
The road will be closed on 7 November 2011 and a diversion route in place for the duration of the project. The diversion route will take motorists along Leesons Hill, Cray Avenue and Poverest Road. There will also be a ban on right hand turns into Leesons Hill and Station Road, and new parking restrictions on Leesons Hill. These traffic management measures are designed to relieve likely congestion in the area. The planned works follow safety inspections which revealed structural weaknesses in the bridge and no alternative to total reconstruction.
For more information visit www.bromley.gov.uk/chislehurstbridge or follow us on www.twitter.com/chislehurstrdbr.
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Notes to editors:
- For media enquiries, contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk
