A LANDMARK footbridge in Wapley has reopened after five months' of work preparing it for the arrival of high speed electric trains.


The Sergeant’s Farm Bridge, across the railway from Shire Way, Yate, was removed by a large crane in December in front of a crowd of residents, and reopened to the public on Tuesday April, 28 after work to prepare it for the electrification of the railway was completed.


The reconstruction of the 1903 iron footbridge was an essential part of the Great Western Electrification Programme, a scheme to improve one of Britain’s oldest and busiest railways by better connecting major towns and cities enabling a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to serve commuters in Gloucestershire.


The rebuilt bridge is higher, creating the additional space needed for the overhead lines which will power the new trains to run underneath.


A temporary footbridge across the railway was put in place while work was underway for walkers, cyclists and people crossing to the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.


Andrew Haynes, Network Rail’s project director, said: “Significant work was required to prepare this bridge for the electrification of the railway and I would like to thank the local community for their patience while it was taking place.


“Now this work is complete, residents are a step closer to the benefits that electrification and the new electric trains will bring.”


Christine Howard, chairman of Dodington Parish Council, said: "The parish council as a whole has been very glad to make a positive contribution to this important project. We have a wide range of expertise on our council, so we have been able to judge this both as councillors and from a professional engineering standpoint."


Dodington Parish Councillor Paul Hulbert, who is also a regular volunteer at the nature reserve, said: "We are very happy with the way Network Rail's main contractors J Murphy and Sons have tackled this project, and much of its success is down to their project manager Dean Oldershaw.

"Dean has demonstrated a very community-minded approach and combined professionalism with flexibility. It has been a pleasure working with him."


Mr Oldershaw said: "Local humor and encouragement and friendly banter with my work force helped us all get through the dark dank winter days and cold wet nights. The bridge threw many challenges at us especially after high winds paralysed the crane on the shifts from boxing day onwards.


"Paul Hulbert and the parish council offered full assistance to make the installation of the bridges approach units happen by offering access via the common.


"From myself and my site team I wish the local community all the very best for the future."

 

A time-lapse film showing the scale of the work to rebuild the bridge can be seen here: