Limited opening times at Broads swing bridge during half term
The Broads Authority has negotiated passage for boaters using the century old swing bridge at Somerleyton over the half term holiday in a bid to avoid a total blockade as Network Rail carries out major repairs.
Network Rail engineers are planning to carry out a £1.6 million programme of work from Saturday 23rd October to Sunday 31st October and had planned to close the river completely. However the Authority was concerned that the boating industry would be seriously disrupted during a prime holiday week and has insisted on a compromise.
The work will see the central swing bearing replaced and the wheels which support the bridge as it swings renewed. In addition thorough corrosion surveys will be carried out at both Somerleyton and Reedham bridges, which have been swinging open for fixed mast craft since 1905, to assess the need for future repairs and refurbishment.
During this week the bridge will not swing and boats will only be able to pass underneath from midnight to 0900, 1200 to 1300, 1700 to 1800 and 2000 to midnight. From 31st Oct to 5th Nov inclusive, when engineers will be commissioning the bridge, passage will be allowed from midnight to 0900, 1200 to 1300, 1600 to1700 and from 2000 until further notice to give boaters maximum light once the clocks go back. There will be a clear width of 5.4 metres (18ft) for vessels to travel underneath during the available periods and a clearance of 8ft 6” at normal high water.
Norwich to Lowestoft train services will be replaced by buses though some trains will run between Norwich and Reedham before being diverted to Great Yarmouth. Buses will run between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
Broads Authority Director of Waterways, Trudi Wakelin, said: “We are very disappointed that Network Rail has not done more to accommodate the needs of boaters and that the discussions we have held with Network Rail over the last few months haven’t resulted in a better outcome. However, we feel we need to bite the bullet to secure the long term future of Somerleyton bridge and as a result of intense negotiations last week we have secured some limited opportunities to give boaters access to this picturesque part of the River Waveney, but they will need to plan their voyage carefully.”
In the meantime Network Rail, the statutory operator and owner of the swing bridges on the Broads, have informed the Broads Authority that recent oil test results indicate that mechanism wear rates are too high to sustain the previous two daily openings.
From Monday October 11th until 23rd the bridge will swing only six times a week, with no swings at all from Tuesdays to Thursdays. It will open for ten minutes from 15.30 to 15.40 on Mondays and Fridays, for two 10 minute slots between 09.30 to 09.40 and 15.30 to 15.40 on Saturdays and for two one hour slots from 10.10 to 11.10 and 16.10 to 17.10 Sundays.
Check http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating/bulletin-board-for-mariners.html and www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com.
13/10/10
