London Bridge blockade in August

[Bald Rick]

I must say I have been wondering why the work was done so early on only to be left empty for a couple of years.

I'm sure there are good reasons though.
Maybe to do with workforce being required elsewhere at the crucial moment, or to do with site access being difficult while other works are taking place nearby.
Or maybe the bridge needs time to bed-in or something weird like that?

Or maybe, given all the controversy, there was a keenness to get past the point of no return before permission was revoked?

These are all just wild guesses of course.

A combination of all of the above, except the bedding in one.

It would, of course, have been very difficult for a politician to try and cancel the project with an unused viaduct (complete with 300mm ballast depth) for all to see on google maps.

 

[mister-sparky]

A combination of all of the above, except the bedding in one.

It would, of course, have been very difficult for a politician to try and cancel the project with an unused viaduct (complete with 300mm ballast depth) for all to see on google maps.

It's not uncommon for work to be done and then a project cancelled. Both in railways and road and everything else.

 

[neilm]

This august they are replacing a bridge just north of south bermondsey, but what is the reason for the bridge being replaced? I go over it everyday so it must be fine! Is it a slightly different alignment?

 

[Bald Rick]

It's not uncommon for work to be done and then a project cancelled. Both in railways and road and everything else.

Agreed, but pretty rare for very visible major transport infrastructure within walking distance of Parliament.
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This august they are replacing a bridge just north of south bermondsey, but what is the reason for the bridge being replaced? I go over it everyday so it must be fine! Is it a slightly different alignment?

In technical terms, it's knackered. Still safe of course, but then so is a Pacer.

 

[swt_passenger]

This august they are replacing a bridge just north of south bermondsey, but what is the reason for the bridge being replaced? I go over it everyday so it must be fine! Is it a slightly different alignment?

Chicken and egg, as they say. With the London Bridge low level station out of use for the next phase of platform and approach alterations, the tracks over the bridge would be out of use anyway.

So in other words they may be replacing the bridge while the opportunity arises, rather than closing the track because they need to replace the bridge...

(IYSWIM...)