Bridge nightmare to last 16 months
Network Rail has once again revised plans for the replacement of Stirling’s Kerse Road bridge.
If they are agreed the bridge will be closed, partially closed or subject to narrow lanes for 16 months.
The company’s latest proposed timetable was outlined by Stirling Council traffic management team leader Stuart Geddes at a meeting of Mercat Cross and City Centre Community Council last Thursday.
Stirling councillors have still to agree to the timetable and they meet on August 29 to decide on the planning application for the bridge replacement.
Network Rail are now proposing to start work on the bridge early next year, eight months after the project was originally due to begin.
From the beginning of January there will be one-way traffic over the bridge to allow for the relocation of cabling and pipework and construction of a temporary bridge for pedestrian and cyclists.
For six months from April 25 to October 24 the road over the bridge will be fully closed to allow for its demolition and a new bridge to be built. Piles measuring 130 metres will be sunk during construction.
And for six months from the end of October the bridge will reopen but traffic will be subject to narrow lanes.
Network Rail is replacing the Stirling Council-owned bridge at a cost of £6 million as part of the electrification of the Stirling area rail network.
Their initial proposal for a 12-month closure of Kerse Road, used by 22,000 vehicles a day, prompted widespread anger and more than 1000 people backed the Observer Let’s Keep Stirling Moving petition, which was aimed at shortening the length of time the bridge was to be closed during the work.
Mr Geddes said the new schedule was Network Rail’s “best estimate” based on the times when they could secure possession of the track.
He told the community council: “We want to get the best solution for everyone. We have delayed Network Rail and gathered more information and they are now proposing to start the work in January and we have got them down from a 12-month full closure to a six-month full closure.
“We are trying to get them to coordinate work on the public utilities and gains we make there will be beneficial.”
Community councillor Jim Fisher was concerned about increased volumes of traffic using Linden Avenue.
Mr Geddes said they had carried out consultations with a number of community councils across Stirling over the closures and measures to improve traffic flow were under consideration.
These include: altering the traffic signal settings at the Goosecroft Road/ Seaforth Place junction to accommodate more right turns; altering lane markings and kerb lines to allow more queuing space for traffic turning right into Seaforth Place from Goosecroft Road; and yellow box marking to facilitate right turns at the Seaforth Place/Forthside Way junction.
Community council chairman Andrew Szwebs said he remained worried about the impact of the bridge closure on small businesses in the city centre.
“What we don’t want is people deciding they are going to shop in Falkirk, Glasgow and Edinburgh because they can’t face the traffic jams in Stirling,” he said.
“Some people have ploughed their life savings into these businesses and they need to be consulted about these proposals.”
Mr Geddes said: “Network Rail are causing the disruption and they should be answering people’s questions and being firm on times.”
Mr Fisher said: “Network Rail should offer money towards the upgrades of the intersections. That will make people feel a lot better about what they are doing.”
The community council agreed to invite Network Rail representatives to their meeting next month to discuss the project.