Stowfield railway viaduct to remain closed

[aavm]

Stowfield railway viaduct across the river Wye in the forest of dean, now a footpath, is to remain closed for now. Due to cost, options involve replacing with a modern bridge rather than repairing it.

Forest bridge to remain closed as temporary fix too costly

Councils are considering permanent options as replacing scaffolding would cost £600,000.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Black Bridge over the River Wye in the Forest of Dean crosses from Lydbrook in Gloucestershire to Welsh Bicknor in Herefordshire, but has been closed since 2024.

Dozens of villagers have been calling for it to reopen, but Gloucestershire County Council said a temporary fix to install new scaffolding that would last five more years would cost an "eye-watering" £600,000 due to the complex and historic nature of the bridge...

 

[Gloster]

This appears to be the one over the Wye immediately north of Lydbrook Junction on the Monmouth-Ross-on-Wye line. The line closed to passengers on 5 January 1959, but goods services were retained from the Ross end for the Siemens Edison Swan cable works at Lydbrook Junction until 1 November 1965.

 

[John Webb]

A view of the closed pathway:
No longer passable

© Copyright Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
and of the structure:
Stowfield Viaduct

© Copyright Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

(Click on photos to go to the larger originals on the Geograph website.)

 

[aavm]

OS Map - Saturday Walkers Club

OS Map

maps.walkingclub.org.uk

map of the bridge's location