Update November 2010
Since the last public meeting in Hungerford Corn Exchange
of April 2010, the proposed Hungerford Canal Footbridge has taken several
steps toward
becoming reality.
The bridge engineers have continued their work to take the conceptual
designs presented at the public meetings and transform them into detailed
designs,
in order to fulfill the planning process and have the bridge manufactured.
In September, residents of Hungerford may have seen the arrival of a
team of geotechnical engineers who spent three weeks working in the wharf
area
to survey the ground conditions in precise detail. Trial holes were dug
to investigate the existing bridge foundations and deep boreholes were
drilled
to examine the type and quality of the soil and rock. The laboratory
tests and report will provide crucial information to allow the bridge
engineer
to design appropriate foundations for the bridge piers and north abutment.
As the footbridge design progressed, further consultation was undertaken
with English Heritage and British Waterways in preparation for the planning
submission in September 2010. A response from the West Berkshire Council
Planners is expected by mid-November 2010. In anticipation of planning
permission being granted, West Berkshire Council is preparing a list
of suitable contractors
who will be invited to tender for the construction and installation of
the footbridge at the appropriate time. The tender process usually takes
up to
a month after which the most competitive and suitable contractor will
be awarded the works.
The footbridge is designed in steel with a timber deck. The steelwork
for the bridge will be fabricated in a factory and transported to site
in several
sections. The sections will then be craned and fixed into position on
location in the wharf. Owing to the complex three-dimensional curves
to which the
bridge is designed, initial estimates for fabrication of the bridge are
thought to be about five months. During the fabrication process, the
contractor will
begin work on site to install the foundations and prepare for the arrival
of the bridge.
An important part of the scheme is to improve the approaches to the newly
installed footbridge. The improvements will comprise widening the southern
approach footpath from the High Street and some realignment where the
footpath divides between crossing the canal and descending into the wharf.
In order
to widen the footpath, it is proposed to install new approach fences
to the outside of the existing bridge wing walls. The fences will be
designed
to
match the parapets on the new footbridge.
The completion date for the new footbridge is expected to be early summer
2011.
For further information, please visit www.westberks.gov.uk/hungerfordfootbridge