Forum Topic

Weak Bridge A316

Has anyone in the LBOH even considered or liaised with TfI on the weak bridge (Alexandra Bridge) on the A316.It had barriers installed a long time ago to protect the verges and payments.Just wondering how it’s holding up on the amount of heavy traffic that’s at a standstill most mornings travelling East into London.If more heavy goods vehicles are directed along the A316, that could add more stationary weight for a longer period of time, and have a detrimental effect to the strength of the bridge.I am not saying it’s about to collapse, but it was only built to carry vehicles to the gravel pits as Chiswick Bridge wasn’t constructed until after, and opened in 1933.Just think, in theory we could have another bridge down, as it’s been mention in the press that all London bridges are in a bad state. Weather or not that’s down to the local authority’s or Tlf is unknown to me,but maybe LBOH should check to see if AB can take the weight of the extra traffic.

Bernard Allen ● 2175d8 Comments

TfL

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2174d

Well I hope they know what LBOH are doing by forcing more heavy vehicles over Alexandra Bridge

Bernard Allen ● 2174d

It's a valid point, Bernard, I hope you pursue it with the relevant authorities.

Claire Moran ● 2174d

Can you imagine if they close this bridge 🙄

Maggie Dodge ● 2174d

Cllr HearnAs Alexandra Bridge is in your ward, and you have now been informed about it’s weakness, Tfl road or not, what are you going to do about it?

Bernard Allen ● 2174d

"you have now been informed about its weakness"It all seems rather speculative to me.  The barriers were put in place because of a "weak verge", presumably meaning that either the edges of the bridge supporting the pavements did not have the same structural strength as the carriageway or the parapets were not strong enough to survive a collision.  As far as I can see, nobody has said that the main bridge supporting the carriageway is weak.As for the "extra" HGVs that are being forced to use this bridge, I guess this is the unwelcome through traffic that Hounslow is trying to remove from residential roads.  You seem to be inventing safety risks in order that these HGVs continue to infest Grove Park.

Richard Jennings ● 2174d

Richard: "You seem to be inventing safety risks in order that these HGVs continue to infest Grove Park"On that basis surely the right approach would be to ban all HGVs turning onto Hartington Road or Staveley Road from the A316.  I suspect that is a proposal pretty much everyone would support.  Sadly LBH prefer banning all traffic turning onto those roads (at least Staveley is school times only) even local Chiswick traffic because according to LBH that is not "local" enough

Justin Stephenson ● 2174d

Richard, why are you assuming that I want HGV’s to run through Grove park.If TFL and LBOH want to add extra heavy vehicles to the A316, surely a concrete bridge that was built in 1923 should be checked to see if can carry the extra load, beaning as it already has weak verges.TFL hardly have a good name for maintaining the road infrastructure, If someone doesn't flag this as a possible problem, you could have another bridge closure on your hands which would parallelise the whole area.  Many later concrete constructions are suffering from concrete cancer, lets hope this bridge has been checked by TFL or the rail network in recent years  From the Brentford and Chiswick TimesThe new road leading to the site - now part of the Great Chertsey Road - was then called Alexandra Avenue and only went as far as the junction with Hartington Road. The concrete bridge carrying it over the railway was opened in November 1923, known as the Alexandra Bridge it was rigorously tested with the combined weight of four steam rollers, a petrol roller, and 10 petrol vehicles, 156 tonnes in all.

Bernard Allen ● 2174d