It looks like being a miserable autumn and new year for drivers and businesses who use Rawreth Lane, Watery Lane and Beeches Road !
Why? , Well, County Councillor Michael Hoy received the following information today from the County Council, he’s kindly passed it on to us.
… Reconstruction of Hanover Bridge is expected to start on 6th January 2014.
Hanover Bridge carries a minor unclassified road, Watery Lane, over a stream in the village of Hullbridge (south of South Woodham Ferrers). The bridge was reassessed in 2010 and concluded that the structure is weak (capable of carrying 3 Tonnes only). As part of the Essex Highways maintenance programme, ECC has planned to carry out the reconstruction of the Hanover Bridge in January 2014. In order to facilitate the construction work and ensure the safety of the work force and the public, a full road closure will be applicable to all vehicular traffic. Pedestrian and cyclist access across the stream will be maintained via a designated footway at all time.
The Hanover Bridge reconstruction work is programmed to commence on Monday 6th January 2014 and is expected to last approximately 10 weeks. The diversion route for the road closure is shown in the attached drawing.
As you may already known, the reconstruction of the Beeches Bridge is expected to start on 14th October 2013 and last for 12 weeks. We anticipated to complete the Beeches Bridge work before Christmas and open the road for the Christmas and the New year period and then start the Hanover Bridge construction work. In any case, the road closure for Hanover Bridge will not be implemented until the road closure for the Beeches Bridge has been removed.
Michael is extremely unhappy about this and and we share his concerns . He writes on his blog tonight:
I have been talking with Essex Highways on this, pointing out the problems we all faced last year and earlier this year, when Watery Lane was closed for a number of days due to flooding, with the large tailbacks and delays we faced getting out of Hullbridge as well as the problems caused to local businesses…
….. Essex Highways have assured me that they will monitor traffic and will put in mitigating measures should the traffic becomes to heavy, but I have seen no plans for how this would be done and to what effect beyond a few statements about altering the traffic light phases. Effectively Essex Highways are ignoring me and ploughing on with the scheme having failed to asses the impact of closure.
…….To make things worse I have today received an email confirming that, after this 12 week closure, the road will be closed again for a further 10 weeks from the 6 January 2014 to repair another bridge. I find this totally unacceptable, Watery Lane will be closed for pretty much half a year causing chaos to this part of Essex and Essex Highways have failed to consider the implications to local residents or to consult with us.
Obviously I am not at all happy with this and I have requested a meeting with the Cabinet member for Highways and the Director of Essex Highways to sort this out as a matter of urgency. I will keep you advised.
What possible excuse can ECC come up with to argue why both bridges aren’t reconstructed at the same time.
Absolutely ridiculous, the words booze up, brewery, couldn’t, come to mind. The chaos this will cause to the whole surrounding area is unacceptable and really ECC need to start trying joined up thinking.
Two bridges unfortunately mean some properties would not have any access.The real problem is the small businesses that rely on the passing trade in Battlesbridge and watery lane they will be under real threat as this is their livelihood ,there is no compensation available to them . This will mean loss of Christmas trade and up to 6 months with the road closed ! The only positive is residents and pedestrians in Beeches Road and Watery Lane will have some peace and safety from the rat runners!
A. Matthews. I take your point, in fact my suggestion was probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever stated.
Why o why do they not do this sort of thing in school holidays when traffic levels are lower.
1.5 hour’s was my average drive from hullbridge to wickford when watery lane was shut due to flooding .
And why can’t the bridges be done at the same time.
This will have a massive knock on effect to surrounding areas. With know other way out for us residents.
How can ECH justify this? Surely a temporary road such as the ones used on construction sites and by the military could be built across the corner of a field to bypass the bridge works for the properties that need access? Why is it going to take 10 and 12 weeks to replace a bridge and a small length of road each side? Is it that if the works take 6 weeks everyone will be saying ‘jolly well done for doing it quickly’ or am I being cynical?
M.Turner has a very good point here and it is one I was discussing with another local resident on Friday.
I have a further suggestion on this which would involve our MP.
Firstly I do not believe that many residents are aware that Mark Francois was appointed Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans in September 2012. He is also the Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, area’s that are most affected by these road closures.
I feel sure that with his strong military contacts as a Minister, he could arrange for a temporary road and Bailey bridge to be installed by the Army. The Engineers are always keen to engage in meaningful exercises and something like this would fit well into their training.It would also provide tremendous benefit the local community.
If you read comments on this site Mr. Francois, a response would be appreciated.
Interesting Greenbelt ,your usual novel practical ideas .Unfortunately cannot see ECC being organized enough to be able to do it within the time scale ! Might be done by Christmas 2014 ! There may be some limiting factors with the lie of the land ,probably need the road closed for 6 weeks to instal ! I thought the idea that the remaining bridges would retain 3tonne limit ,after beeches bridge was rebuilt ,to prevent any heavy lorry through traffic ? Just keeps illustrating the futility of developing in Hullbridge and Rawreth as well as all points east , the peninsula is now full up ! If the government wishes us to take extra outside influx population then they need to provide centrally , finance for a new access to cross the Crouch in the area of south woodham to link with Burnham Road to link with the A130 at the turnpike where there is already provision to increase capacity at the interchange .But hey this is pie in the sky ! Isn’t it ?
A Bailey Bridge could be hard to arrange. It sounds good to me though!
I know that District Councillor Keith Hudson likes the idea and that County Councillor Michael Hoy does too and he will be discussing it with County Highways.
Is this road a public highway or not? Yes it is, so we should not be judged badly for using this road, nor should the road be permitted to close so frequently and for so long. You only need to see the issues that closures cause with traffic to understand how many people use this route as part of their commute every day – as I do. My favoured solution would be to widen and raise the road so that it is not a reservoir for run-off from the fields on either side, and keep the weight limit, which is not adhered to anyway.