The bridges of Lancashire County

[Sox]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9144874.__1_26m_project_to_reinforce_Nelson_bridge/

A MAJOR project is set to be unveiled to reinforce and upgrade one of the best-used railway bridges in Pendle.

Around £1.26million will be invested in the overhaul for Walton Lane bridge in Nelson during the current financial year.

Work has already been undertaken by Network Rail to protect weaker sections of the bridge over the railway track, ahead of the bulk of the work being undertaken.

County council chiefs have been asked to contribute £63,350, as the highways authority for Nelson.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, who represents Nelson North and Brierfield, said the bridge was well-used by people travelling to and from Marsden Heights Community College and the nearby Marsden Park.

“Clearly this work should be welcomed if it reinforcies what is a very popular bridge running through Nelson,” he said.

But he also called on rail authorities to consider improving the condition of rolling stock and embankments alongside the track.

“Network Rail should also be looking at replacing some of the trains which are in use along this line, and tackling the amount of litter you see along the side of the line,” added Coun Iqbal, who is also Labour group leader on Pendle council.

Similar investment in railway bridges is also expected across East Lancashire and Chorley over the next 12 months.

Strengthening work is expected for Brownhill Bridge, near Ramsgreave station, which takes Pleckgate Road over the Blackburn-Hellifield line, and for the Three Arches bridge, which takes Church Lane over the northern union line at Charnock Richard, Chorley.

A date for the work in Nelson to take place has still to be set and traffic disruption in the area is likely as a result.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if the proposed strengthening work, mentioned at the end of the report, on Brownhill Bridge that crosses over Pleckgate Road, on the approches to Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station from Blackburn, will affect the running of the Manchester - Blackburn - Clitheroe rail service. If I remember, there is a large roundabout near to this bridge where Pleckgate Road, Whalley New Road (A666) and Brownhill Drive (A6119) all meet.

 

[boing_uk]

I wonder if the proposed strengthening work, mentioned at the end of the report, on Brownhill Bridge that crosses over Pleckgate Road, on the approches to Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station from Blackburn, will affect the running of the Manchester - Blackburn - Clitheroe rail service. If I remember, there is a large roundabout near to this bridge where Pleckgate Road, Whalley New Road (A666) and Brownhill Drive (A6119) all meet.

Yes, but the bridge itself is only one-way, off Brownhill Roundabout. Residential traffic will still have access via Knowles Arms junction. It is not a major road, being around 4m wide or less in places.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Residential traffic will still have access via Knowles Arms junction. It is not a major road, being around 4m wide or less in places.

Thank you for the information. However, the main question that I asked was would the bridge works cause any likely disruption to the Manchester-Blackburn-Clitheroe rail service.

 

[boing_uk]

Thank you for the information. However, the main question that I asked was would the bridge works cause any likely disruption to the Manchester-Blackburn-Clitheroe rail service.

I suppose it depends on what the strengthening is. If it is parapets and deck, then probably not, as the work will mostly be done topside and any overhanging works, like casting of parapet edge beams or the like, will be done overnight. If it is complete structure replacement, which I doubt, then it might entail some weekend closures. I cannot for the life of me think why this bridge would need strengthening in the first place, given that it is a local access road, wide enough only light vehicles and given there is better access for larger vehicles from the other direction.

It would be easier and cheaper to apply to the highway authority to have it stopped up, or have a weight restriction put on it. There is currently no notification in for any works on Brownhill Bridge, thats for sure.

What WOULD make sense is for the Ramsgreave Road bridge to be strengthened / replaced, as this is a much busier road compared to Pleckgate Rd, and has agri traffic using it. It is built to the same design as Brownhill, no boubt with similar issues and is also subject to a weight limit. It would not surprise me if the LT got their facts slightly wrong.

The disruption here would likely be the closure of R&W station car park, for a working area.

 

[lancastrian]

Yes, but the bridge itself is only one-way, off Brownhill Roundabout. Residential traffic will still have access via Knowles Arms junction. It is not a major road, being around 4m wide or less in places.

You are quite right about this bridge, I have used it a few time to deliver to the Vicarage of St Gabriels, Blackburn. The best thing rather than spending a pile of money on strengthaning it, would be to either restrict it as already said or even close it for vehicles and just keep it as a footbridge.

 

[Sox]

......What WOULD make sense is for the Ramsgreave Road bridge to be strengthened / replaced, as this is a much busier road compared to Pleckgate Rd, and has agri traffic using it. It is built to the same design as Brownhill, no boubt with similar issues and is also subject to a weight limit. It would not surprise me if the LT got their facts slightly wrong....

Same though occurred to me, that bit of Pleckgate Rd is a bit of a road to nowhere (in particular).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With regard to the other project at the end of the report concerning the Three Arches bridge that takes Church Lane over the WCML at Charnock Richard, the implications for any rail service disruption would be far more serious because of the fact that the WCML will be involved.

There is alternatives for road traffic diversions at Charnock Richard by the use of Chorley Lane and Charter Lane/Leeson Avenue.

 

[boing_uk]

Ahh, found the document I was looking for, and apologies to the LT !!

Lancashire County Council.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Ahh, found the document I was looking for, and apologies to the LT !!

Lancashire County Council.

You are a scholar and a gentleman....thank you. I did note that there was a fourth project in these documents, but the reading of them and use of the maps in the appendix makes matters much clearer now.