More overnight closures of Cow Lane bridges

I got the following update about Cow Lane bridges this weekend.  There will be further overnight closures starting tonight (Sunday 24 November) 11 pm until 5 am.  Please see below and share with those you think will need to know.

'The closures will be from Sunday night to Friday morning between 2300hrs and 0500hrs only, for up to 3 weeks commencing this Sunday.

Advance warning signs are being erected on site and we are placing warning messages on a number of our variable message signs. Access will be maintained to Safestore (from the south) and to Cardiff Road from the north.'

Urgent closure of the Oxford Road

I have just received notofication that part pf the Oxford Road between Alma Street and St Georges Road will be closed from 8 am on Saturday morning.  Closure will be from 8am until 8pm everyday until repairs have been completed - this could take up to two weeks.

The emails reads:
Thames Water has discovered a section of damaged sewer 3.5m under Oxford Road, outside The Albion PH, between Alma Street and St Georges Road. As well as the damage to the pipe and the blockages/customer flooding issues that this is causing, they have discovered large voids under the carriageway. The recent heavy rain will have worsened the voids, which pose a risk to the structural integrity of the carriageway surface. 

There will be signed diversions and Reading Buses have anounced their diversions here:

 http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/articles/closure-of-oxford-road-3/

The road surface will be monitored until the closure begins.
 

Oxford Rd closed overnight 25-26 May #rdg

The Oxford Road, by West Reading Bridge, will be closed overnight from midnight Friday 25 May until 5am Saturday 26 May while emergency bridge repairs are made.

A fully signed diversion route will be in place as follows:

From the West

• Turn right on to Grovelands Road
• Turn left on to Water Road
• Turn left on to Tilehurst Road
• Turn left on to Russell Street
• Turn left on to Oxford Road (diversion ends)

From the East

From Chatham Street on to Bedford Road:

• Lane 2 of Bedford Road (southbound) closed, all traffic forced left on to Oxford Road
• Turn right on to Russell Street
• Follow reverse of diversion ‘from the West’

For information on bus diversions please see here.

Cow Lane to close again

This Christmas the project to replace Cow Lane Bridges will take a huge step forward with the replacement of the bridge closest to Salisbury Road.  The road between this junction and the Safestore entrance will be closed from 19 December until 23 January 2012.  The road between Safestore and Cardiff road will then be closed 23-30 January 2012 for preparation work on the second bridge.

It will potentially be a difficult time for residents of Battle ward as there will be disruption to traffic flow however it will be for a huge benefit once the bridges are complete, as large vehicles and through traffic will no longer need to use the Oxford Road.

This video very neatly shows the improvements to the station and, near the end, Cow Lane Bridges!

You can check if your train journey will be disrupted here.  You can also visit the Network Rail pages for this project here.

You can even go and watch the bridge being moved into place from a viewing platform in the Dairy Crest yard on Boxing Day.

I am going to try and go along.  I will never forget watching a bridge being pushed under the main line to London.  It was part of the Maidenhead flood defences.  They ran wires through the railway embankment to freeze and stabilise it, dug the bank away and pushed the bridge underneath all while the trails continued to run over the top (slowed down though).  I saw it as part of my Degree course.  Fascinating.....

UPDATE:  Just received notification that  Cow Lane will be shut between Safestore and Cardiff Road for three nights 8pm until 6am from 5 to 8 December for safety reasons.