Branston Railway Bridge

Introduction

Staffordshire County Council has had to bring in restrictions on the usage of the 184-year-old Branston Railway Bridge, on the B5018 Main Street, for safety reasons.

Usage is restricted to vehicles under 7.5 tonnes in weight and not greater than 2.3m in width. Pedestrian and cycle traffic over the bridge is still available.

The restrictions follow routine inspections that revealed defects to the bridge that require repairing and will be in place for the foreseeable future. An alternative signed diversion route has been put in place for vehicles unable to cross the bridge. 

Two-way signals have been installed either side of the bridge due to the 2.3m width restriction. A number of advance signs warning of the weight and width restrictions in place at the bridge have been erected. Any vehicle of 7.5 tonnes or greater / greater than 2.3m wide arriving at the bridge will have ignored these warning signs. The concrete blocks have been put in place to prevent those overweight / wide vehicles which have ignored the advance signing, from overloading the bridge. 

When are the works taking place?

Options to strengthen the existing arch are being explored and our engineers are currently discussing several options with the supply chain, utility companies and Network Rail, whilst undertaking additional site investigation and detailed design. Alternatively, a replacement bridge may be required. 

Our teams will be on site undertaking regular inspections of the existing structure and other maintenance within the traffic management. The concrete barriers may need to be repositioned slightly to allow maintenance to be undertaken however a 2.3m available width will be maintained.

When will the works be completed?

A completion date is not yet available but once the most appropriate option is determined, we will have a more definitive program for the works.

Will I be able to access over the bridge?

Yes, however access over the bridge will be restricted to vehicles less than 7.5 tonnes and 2.3m wide due to the structural weight limit. Access either side of the bridge remains available via the signed diversion route.  The existing zonal 7.5 tonne amenity restriction is still effective, with exceptions for access, however the structural restriction at the bridge applies to all traffic. 

Pedestrian and cycle traffic over the bridge is still available.

Signage at the reduced headroom railway bridge on B5018 Burton Road, near Anglesey Road, has been upgraded with associated carriageway markings to support the passage of HGVs.

What effect could the works have on me?

It is necessary to keep Branston Bridge closed to traffic over 7.5 tonnes or greater than 2.3m wide, however through traffic will be maintained for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

Bus companies have been informed of the current restrictions and alternative services are now effective along the diversion route. Revised timetables should be available on the Traveline website and on Staffordshire County Council bus map and timetable pages two weeks before the amendment date, or you can email publictransport@staffordshire.gov.uk for a timetable.

HGVs previously travelling along Main Street to A38 are also required to use the diversion route, passing beneath the railway bridge to the east near Anglesey Road.

How are we enforcing the weight and width restrictions?

Extensive advance signing has been put in place to avoid vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or greater / greater than 2.3m wide arriving at the bridge and the width restriction at the bridge is being enforced by the provision of concrete barriers to prevent overweight vehicles/wide vehicles that have ignored the advance signing from overloading the bridge.

In addition, we have used and will continue to use mobile CCTV vehicles to further support the restrictions and are looking at installing fixed CCTV cameras at the site. Our engineers are regularly monitoring the bridge and the restrictions to keep it open to pedestrians and traffic below the weight and width restrictions but, if these are ignored and the bridge deteriorates further, we will have to consider complete closure to traffic.

Half-term closure

The road over the bridge will be closed from 28 October for a period of 5 days to allow detailed site investigation works to be safely undertaken.

Whilst the road over the bridge will remain closed for the duration of these investigatory works, pedestrian and cycle access over the bridge will remain available.

How you can help us

You can help us to get the job done with the minimum of fuss by following this advice:

• Please keep children away from the works and parked machinery to ensure their safety.
• Please follow the signed diversion routes.
• Please do not move traffic management equipment.
• Please do not approach the work site due to unprotected edges.