Southend High Street rail bridge to be replaced

11:40am Monday 14th January 2013 in News By David Trayner

Dawn Jeakings, chairman of the town centre partnership, with the rail bridge Dawn Jeakings, chairman of the town centre partnership, with the rail bridge

SOUTHEND High Street will be cut in half and train services stopped for two days as workmen replace a 130-year-old bridge.

The area under the High Street rail bridge will be closed to pedestrians and almost 250 buses will replace trains on Saturday, February 2, and Sunday, February 3, as Netword Rail carry out the £2million replacement work.

Steve Knight, general manager at Network Rail, said: “The work we are carrying out at Southend High Street is essential to keep improving the railway in Essex. The line from Fenchurch Street to Shoebury is the most punctual in the country and this work is essential to continue delivering consistent levels of service to passengers.

"We are combining the work on the bridge, which has come to the end of its life, with improvements to the track and new lighting in the area.”

The work will mean pedestrians will not be able to walk under the bridge and signs will be installed directing them to diversionary routes.

Stewards will be on both sides of the bridge to direct people to these routes.

The scheme, which includes improved lighting to the public highway and new track, will mean the current structure is replaced with a new bridge designed to last for at least the next 120 years.

Buses will replace trains between Southend Central and Shoebury in both directions.

There will be a bus every 15 minutes for most of Saturday and a half-hourly service at other times.

Train services between Southend Central and the rest of the c2c line will be unaffected.

Mr Knight said: “The High Street in Southend will be open for business as usual and we are working hard with Southend Council and the town centre partnership to miminise any disruption to shoppers.

“Signage will be installed in the local area to give people alternative routes. We do appreciate this project will cause some disruption and thank the people of the area for their understanding."

Dawn Jeakings, chairman of the town centre partnership, said: “We are in conversation with Network Rail over the work.

“If it’s an old bridge and it needs repairing and replacing, this needs to be done. It’s just about communicating it in the right way.”

For more information about the rail replacement bus service visit www.c2c-online.co.uk/travel_information/service_alterations/planned_service_alterations.

Comments (14)

12:32pm Mon 14 Jan 13

lennyfy says...

"Almost 250 buses" bit of a typo there i think Echo more like 25 unless they are planning to park them end to end through to Shoebury
"Almost 250 buses" bit of a typo there i think Echo more like 25 unless they are planning to park them end to end through to Shoebury lennyfy

12:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Saxonpride says...

Good Lord, an article about building work NOT accompanied by a group of pensioners scowling at the camera and whining about 'the old days'?
Good Lord, an article about building work NOT accompanied by a group of pensioners scowling at the camera and whining about 'the old days'? Saxonpride

12:58pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Nebs says...

Good opportunity to put a couple of small units under the bridge where the buskers and beggars currently sit.
Good opportunity to put a couple of small units under the bridge where the buskers and beggars currently sit. Nebs

1:00pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

I like the buskers.
I like the buskers. Shoebury_Cyclist

1:42pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Rouge9 says...

lennyfy wrote:
"Almost 250 buses" bit of a typo there i think Echo more like 25 unless they are planning to park them end to end through to Shoebury
If you add up all the journeys the buses will need to make, that is where you'll get 250.
[quote][p][bold]lennyfy[/bold] wrote: "Almost 250 buses" bit of a typo there i think Echo more like 25 unless they are planning to park them end to end through to Shoebury[/p][/quote]If you add up all the journeys the buses will need to make, that is where you'll get 250. Rouge9

3:16pm Mon 14 Jan 13

notinwestcliffanymore says...

2 days,, yeah right given the weather conditions in early feb this will know doubt cause delays right into march.
2 days,, yeah right given the weather conditions in early feb this will know doubt cause delays right into march. notinwestcliffanymore

3:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Chymes81 says...

Hopefully The New Bridge Will Be Pigeon Proof.
Hopefully The New Bridge Will Be Pigeon Proof. Chymes81

4:29pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Keptquiettillnow says...

So long as Greggs doesnt have to close we will be alright
So long as Greggs doesnt have to close we will be alright Keptquiettillnow

5:47pm Mon 14 Jan 13

SARFENDMAN says...

So the old bridge has lasted 130 years but the new only expected to go 120. So we cannot match previous technology and they call that progress?
So the old bridge has lasted 130 years but the new only expected to go 120. So we cannot match previous technology and they call that progress? SARFENDMAN

6:12pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Eric Whim says...

Keptquiettillnow wrote:
So long as Greggs doesnt have to close we will be alright
not while the council is urgent need for pies
[quote][p][bold]Keptquiettillnow[/bold] wrote: So long as Greggs doesnt have to close we will be alright[/p][/quote]not while the council is urgent need for pies Eric Whim

11:00pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Sean4u says...

How much of the work do they do from 'on top' and how much from underneath? Do they take away the old bridge and deliver the new one by rail?
How much of the work do they do from 'on top' and how much from underneath? Do they take away the old bridge and deliver the new one by rail? Sean4u

12:37am Tue 15 Jan 13

cowboycountry says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
I like the buskers.
I second that.
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: I like the buskers.[/p][/quote]I second that. cowboycountry

12:44am Tue 15 Jan 13

cowboycountry says...

SARFENDMAN wrote:
So the old bridge has lasted 130 years but the new only expected to go 120. So we cannot match previous technology and they call that progress?
Don't ask that question to the dudes fixing the bridge(!)

Work will be suspended and consultants bought in and blah blah blah
[quote][p][bold]SARFENDMAN[/bold] wrote: So the old bridge has lasted 130 years but the new only expected to go 120. So we cannot match previous technology and they call that progress?[/p][/quote]Don't ask that question to the dudes fixing the bridge(!) Work will be suspended and consultants bought in and blah blah blah cowboycountry

8:53pm Tue 15 Jan 13

abd123 says...

Do we have to put up with this disrption every 130 years? Its a bit much.
Do we have to put up with this disrption every 130 years? Its a bit much. abd123

Comments are closed on this article.

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