February 2022 www.towpathtalk.co.uk Railway bridge ensures canal restoration on track
A MAJOR project to replace a railway bridge which means boats will be able to pass underneath was completed on time during the Christmas holiday.
While the railway was closed for seven days between Christmas and the new year, a team of 150 operatives from Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths worked around the clock on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership to ensure the project was completed.
The original bridge had been replaced in the 1960s with an embankment leaving only a narrow opening that was too small for boats to pass through and needed to be replaced as part of the restoration of the Stroudwater Canal.
The Ocean railway bridge project took more than two years of planning, which included casting the new bridge sections on site, catching and relocating thousands of fish and draining a 230m section of the canal. The team used a total of 4000 tonnes of material for the foundations and backfilling around the new structure and 500 tonnes of ballast (track stone) when reinstating the railway.
New bridge sections, the largest of which weighed 64 tonnes, were lifted into place using a 1200- tonne crane. Despite strong winds and heavy rain, which created challenging working conditions, Network Rail completed the project on time.
The new bridge, with its integrated towpath, will allow boats to pass under the railway as part of the restoration of the Stroudwater Canal which will eventually make Stroud and Stonehouse canal towns once again.
Chris Mitford- Slade, Cotswold Canals Connected project director, said: “This was the largest and most complex project on this section of the canal (known as Phase 1B) and we would like to thank all of those living in the locality for their support, understanding and tolerance. This project, and the canal restoration, would not have been possible without the support of the National Heritage Lottery Fund, private donations, fundraising and grants.”
Stroud District Council leader, Doina Cornell, said: “This is more than just an engineering project; our aim is for the canal restoration to act as a catalyst for social, cultural, economic and environmental transformation. We look forward to working with communities and organisations along the canal and recognise the significant effort that will be required from volunteers to complete the project.”
Network Rail project manager, Deborah Elliott, said: “Our teams worked through challenging conditions to deliver this important project for the local community and we were very grateful for their interest and support throughout.”
Alun Griffiths’ managing director, Stephen Tomkins, added: “As a local contractor, we pride ourselves on delivering schemes that leave a positive legacy for the communities in which we work. This scheme is a great example of leaving a positive legacy by once again having a navigable canal for users and the local community.”
A time-lapse film of the installation will be available to view on the Cotswold Canals Connected website and social media channels.
The canal towpath either side of the bridge will remain closed until the end of March to allow follow-up work, including re-establishing the clay lining to the canal, refilling the canal, constructing a new towpath and planting trees on the canal bank. An alternative walking and cycling route is signposted.
Finally, the site compound and other working areas will be restored to their previous condition.
Information events about the canal restoration project will take place over the coming months at a number of canalside locations.