Footpath across the bridge will be closed during different periods of work
One of London’s landmark bridges, Barnes Railway Bridge is to get a £3m makeover starting from next month.
The work is to repair 16,000 square metres of wrought iron trusses and arches on the grade II listed bridge being cleaned, stripped down to the bare metal and re-painted in two tones of grey colour. Also agreed is the removal of algae, replace the corroded metal and the damaged brickwork. The work is expected to begin at the end of March 2009 until April 2010.
Richard O’Brien, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said, “Barnes Bridge is an important river crossing for one of our busiest commuter services, with a history going back to the 1840s. This bridge is a source of pride for Network Rail, so we have planned the work to reflect the bridge’s importance to the community, both as a river crossing and a local landmark. We hope the long-term positives of this scheme will outweigh any short-term disruption while we undertake these vital improvement works.”
Repair works will begin during the day. To keep the rail services operating, some of the trackside elements will need to be carried out at night.
It is also necessary to close the footpath across the bridge for up six weeks during different periods of the work.
The majority of the work will be carried during the weekday between the hours of 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. For safety reasons, some of the work will be carried out during the night.
The closures dates:
12:35 am Sunday 14 June – 4:00 am Monday: 15 June 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 25 July – 04:00 am Monday: 27 July 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 1 August – 4:00 am Monday: 3 August 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 15 August – 4:00 am Monday: 7 August 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 22 August – 4:00 am Monday: 24 August 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 29 August – 4:00 am Monday: 31 August 2009;
1:00 am Saturday 21 November – 4:00 am Monday: 23 November 2009;
1:00 am Sunday 13 December – 4:00 am: Monday: 14 December 2009;
1:00 am Sunday 14 February – 4:00 am: Monday: 15 February 2010; and
1:00 am Sunday 21 February – 4:00 am Monday: 22 February 2010
The footbridge over the river will need to be closed between the hours of 9:30 am – 3.30 pm, to allow for safe installation of scaffolding. The closure dates:
Monday 18 May – Sunday 5 July 2009;
Monday 24 August – Friday 4 September 2009;
Monday 28 September – Friday 9 October 2009;
Monday 9 November – Sunday 13 December 2009; and
Sunday 14 February – Friday 5 March 2010
The footbridge will be closed all day during these dates:
21-22 November 2009;
13 December 2009; and 14 February 2010
Network Rail has been working with Richmond Council’s environmental health officers to help minimize disruption for residents and businesses during the works. Network Rail will also provide information about the planned footpath closures to the community and residents who are affected.
To allow traffic to access the Thames, the works will spread throughout the year.
For further information about the work, please contact the Construction Partnership Hotline on telephone number 0800 389 5901. If at anytime you have any safety concerns or enquiries about Network Rail’s general work policy, please call our 24 hour National Helpline on 08457 114141.
May 17, 2009