en.Wedoany.com Reported - Network Rail is carrying out repairs to Reedham swing bridge. Due to a major mechanical fault in the central bearing, the bridge cannot be reliably opened for large vessels to pass, with the repair work scheduled for this summer.
The 123-year-old swing bridge carries the Wherry railway line between Norwich and Lowestoft, with trains crossing the River Yare over the bridge, which can swing open to allow large vessels to pass safely. The faulty central bearing is part of the main pivot, helping to support the structure as the bridge opens and closes.
Engineers have already begun preparatory work on site, ahead of a full bearing replacement. The repair schedule is as follows: preparatory work, including the construction of a temporary support frame to relieve the weight on the bearing during replacement, will run until Friday 7 August; the old bearing will be removed on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August; a full assessment of the mechanism and final preparation of new components will take place from Monday 10 to Friday 28 August; the new bearing will be installed on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August; and follow-up work, testing and commissioning will take place from Monday 31 August to mid-September.
Joe Kennedy, Network Rail's Anglia infrastructure director, said: "We are very sorry for the disruption the mechanical fault at Reedham swing bridge has caused to boat users, passengers and neighbours. This will be a major and complex repair, as the bridge is both critical infrastructure and an important heritage landmark for the area. We are doing everything we can to get Reedham bridge back into full working order."
Train services have not been directly affected by the fault, but the railway over the bridge will need to close for the work on the weekends of 8-9 August and 29-30 August. During these closures, services between Norwich and Lowestoft will be replaced by direct buses, stopping at Oulton Broad North, with additional train services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, calling at Brundall, Buckenham, Cantley and Reedham. Passengers are advised to check greateranglia.co.uk before travelling.
To provide some passage for large vessel users, engineers carried out extensive testing to establish whether the bridge could be manually turned to a limited degree without causing further damage. Following analysis of the test results, Network Rail and the Broads Authority have confirmed three bridge opening slots for the coming week. This schedule is designed to minimise the risk of further problems that could delay the bridge's repair well beyond the planned timescale. Engineers will closely monitor the bridge during each opening and carefully review the opening schedule.
After 4 August, the bridge will not be able to open until the repair is complete. If the repair progresses as planned, the bridge is expected to be fully operational by mid-September. The bridge's high-temperature restrictions will apply as usual, meaning the bridge cannot be turned when temperatures are too high, as its main structure and rails expand in the heat.
Rob Rogers, the Broads Authority's director of delivery, said: "While most boats on the Broads can pass under the bridge, we are well aware that some still rely on it opening. We have been in close contact with Network Rail, discussing the complexity of the repair process and the measures to reduce the risk of further damage. I am pleased that we have been able to agree on these planned opening slots."
