Network Rail is planning “essential structural improvement works” on the Priory Road railway bridge in St Denys from February 17 until July 10, resulting in the closure of the road under the bridge for at least some of this period.
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A map with a bewildering array of diversions and road closures around the southern St Denys area has been sent to some residents, along with a letter outlining the work schedule.
Between February 17 and March 2, daytime work will take place under Priory Road railway bridge, which will be closed to traffic. The work involves setting up the site and erecting scaffolding to facilitate repairs.
From March 3 to April 11, repairs will continue during the day, including busting or drilling rivets, installing steel strengthening, and repainting the underside of the bridge. Although noisy tools will be used, efforts will be made to minimise disturbances, with loud tasks scheduled for daytime hours.
From April 12 to April 18, 24-hour working will occur while the railway line is closed for a week. Crews will focus on the top of the bridge, including trackside scaffold installation, steel strengthening, repairs, repainting, and scaffold dismantling. This work will involve noisy machinery, but efforts will be made to conduct the loudest tasks during the day, says Network Rail.
Finally, between April 19 and July 10, daytime work will focus on completion tasks, including snagging, post-work surveys, dismantling scaffolding, and lifting the road closure under the bridge.
Network Rail has said that a pedestrian route will continue to be available underneath the bridge during the work, but comms make it unclear whether the road will be closed to traffic for the entire duration of work – around five months – or part of it.
Commenting on the scheme on social media, St Denys resident Ben Quextal said: “I don’t suppose it would be possible to make use of the closure to resurface Priory Road, which is one of the worst road surfaces in the city and yet never seems to be on the council’s radar despite being a critical part of the cycle network?”