Plans to demolish the existing narrow-arch railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane and replace it with a much wider concrete structure during a nine-day railway closure over Easter have been postponed as a consequence of the corinavirus crisis.

Over the last few months, the new 4,500 tonne bridge has been gradually taking shape in the Alun Griffiths site compound within the adjacent Horizon 38 business park. It was due to be moved into position in the early hours of 15th April 2020 using a 176-axle self-propelled modular transport unit.

But Network Rail has now been forced to postpone the bridge replacement operation because of the difficulty in adhering to government guidelines on social distancing, in particular the need to maintain a separation of two metres between members of the 150-strong team working on the project.

Network Rail says it is now working with its stakeholders to try to identify an opportunity later in the year when the bridge move can take place, “subject to any future government guidance and directives”.

Gipsy Patch Lane was closed to all road users at the railway bridge for an estimated eight-month period starting on 5th March 2020. An announcement issued today (Friday 3rd April) by South Gloucestershire Council says Gipsy Patch Lane and the Station Road junction will remain closed “so Network Rail and Alun Griffiths can continue their preparatory and highways work”.

Work that was planned to be carried out in the six or so months after the new bridge had been installed over Easter includes lowering the carriageway under the bridge, regrading the Station Road junction, construction of new carriageway and pathways and installation of a new drainage pumping station.

The current project timetable shows further carriageway work, e.g. the construction of new bus lanes, being carried out east and west of the bridge until the end of 2021.

The cost of replacing the Gipsy Patch Lane railway bridge is £26.73 million. The work forms part of the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, which is funded to the tune of £56.9m by the West of England Combined Authority.

Above: New railway bridge under construction in the Alun Griffiths site compound.

More: Statement from South Gloucestershire Council »

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Residents of the Stokes who use Gipsy Patch Lane to access employment, shopping and leisure facilities to the west of the railway line are being encouraged to plan ahead for an eight-month full closure of the road that is due to start on Thursday 5th March.

The road closure is needed so that a new, much-wider railway bridge can be moved into place, and for the associated highway works to be completed.

The new wider bridge will provide room for new bus lanes in each direction and shared use cycle and pedestrian pathways, as well as general traffic lanes.

The southern end of Station Road, which emerges onto Gipsy Patch Lane near the bridge, will also be closed to motorised traffic for the same eight-month period. However, pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to pass between Gipsy Patch Lane and Station Road via a temporary footbridge over the culvert that runs along the east side of Station Road.

For motorised through traffic, there will be a signed diversion route throughout the closure period. This will take motorists via Bradley Stoke Way and the A38. Additional signage will also be placed on the wider road network informing motorists of the Gipsy Patch Lane closure and advising them to use alternative routes.

There will also be a signed diversion route for vehicles to reach Station Road from Gipsy Patch Lane (and vice versa), via Little Stoke Lane and Clay Lane.

More: Closure applies to all road users, including pedestrians & cyclists »

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The project to dismantle the narrow railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane and replace it with a much wider concrete structure is still on track to meet the looming deadline of a programmed nine-day closure of the railway line over Easter, according to Network Rail.

Piling work to create 24-metre deep foundations to support the four corners of the replacement bridge has been going on since 4th November but has encountered delays due to “unforeseen ground conditions”.

The piling was originally due to start in early October 2019 and take three months but will now not be completed until the second week of February.

In order to safely complete the piling on the north-east corner, it was deemed necessary to close the southern end of Station Road for two weeks in January. The closure was originally planned to start on 6th January but was postponed to 13th January. As we went to press, it was announced that the closure would continue into a third week.

In parallel with the piling work, construction of the new bridge has continued within the Alun Griffiths site compound within the Horizon 38 business park (see photo below).

The bridge is being cast in three sections, (north abutment, south abutment and deck) each requiring a non-stop pour of concrete over many hours. The pour for the north abutment took place on 21st January, requiring 300 cubic metres of concrete, brought to the site in 27 deliveries. Pouring of the south abutment and deck are scheduled to take place in February (read more below).

Once completed, a ‘curing’ period of up to four weeks is required for the bridge to achieve full strength.

The 4,500 tonne bridge is currently scheduled to be manoeuvred into position, after the old bridge has been demolished, in the early hours of 15th April. This will be achieved using a 176-axle self-propelled modular transport unit.

More: Full closure of Gipsy Patch Lane for eight months »

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A section of Station Road in Little Stoke, from its junction with Gipsy Patch Lane northwards, is to be closed for approximately two weeks from Monday (13th January).

The closure is required to enable Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths Ltd to continue with the piling work which has been taking place at the railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane.

The Journal understands that Gipsy Patch Lane will remain fully open during this period, although some delays should be expected due to the occasional use of stop/go boards to control traffic flowing under the bridge.

All businesses on and near Station Road, including Patchway Station and the Sort It Centre, will be open as normal.

A diversion route for vehicles, to reach Station Road via Little Stoke Lane and Clay Lane, will be in operation and will be fully signposted throughout the junction closure.

Drivers are warned that access to businesses located at the southern end of Station Road will involve travelling under a bridge with a height restriction of 4.2 metres (near the Sort It Centre).

Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to access Station Road directly from Gipsy Patch Lane during the closure.

The closure of Station Road was originally scheduled to start last Monday (6th January) but was postponed by the contractor. Public notice of the postponement only appeared on the project website two days later, on Wednesday 8th January.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said:

“Whilst we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of this work, we apologise for the inconvenience that the Station Road/Gipsy Patch Lane junction closure may cause and any effect on journey times.”

“Please note that dates and timeframes may be subject to further change depending on ground conditions or adverse weather.”

More information:

• Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (SGC)
• MetroBus Extension Build (SGJ)

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