Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) has brought forward planned works for Marlow’s suspension bridge while traffic is at an all-time low. The work, originally due to start in September, will now begin on Monday (May 18).
Owing to the coronavirus emergency, a decision was made to split the project into two phases, and the first stage of the work will now be done in May. This will reduce the impact on residents and businesses when the current lockdown comes to an end.
Phase 1 of the project includes the cleaning of the bridge towers and repainting of its chains and hangers. This will begin at 9.30am on Monday 18 May, requiring a 24-hour road closure of the bridge until 1 June. The bridge will still be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
After this, there will be temporary two-way traffic lights in place to allow vehicles access until Friday 10 July, when Phase 1 will be completed and the bridge, again, becomes fully accessible.
Phase 2 is provisionally planned to start in September and will involve repainting bridge parapets and replacing bearings on the Bisham end of the bridge.
Cabinet Member for Transport, Nick Naylor, said: “I am so pleased that we are still able to carry out this important and highly anticipated work on Marlow Bridge. Over the years, TfB has worked tirelessly to do all it can to protect and preserve this iconic structure. Now we can carry out the relevant work in a shorter time frame whilst minimising disruption to the public, which I know will be much appreciated by the residents of Marlow especially. I look forward to seeing the end result.”
TfB added that it has a long-term strategy in place to conserve the listed bridge for current and future generations and, as part of this strategy, there is an ongoing requirement to undertake routine maintenance and refurbishment.
