A complex project to lift out Skew Bridge at Lake so it can be taken away for refurbishment off-site will be undertaken next week, but the temporary traffic lights are set to remain in place until at least June.
A special rail-mounted crane will be used to lift the 9-tonne footbridge from its foundations. It will then be dismantled into 3 sections in nearby Winchester House car park and transported to a specialist company off-Island for refurbishment before coming back to the Island and hoisted once more into place.
The lifting and necessary preparations will take place between 09:00 on Tuesday 4th May and 17:00 on Thursday 6th May.
Island Roads has agreed the dates and times of the lift during discussions with Network Rail and South Western Railway and will be carried out during the railway’s ‘blockade’ (suspension of services) while track maintenance is taking place. Further discussions will be required to organise the lifting of the refurbished bridge back into place – hopefully in early June.
Jason Boulter, Island Roads project manager, said:
“It is the first time we have lifted out a railway footbridge in this manner and it has taken a lot of planning and discussions to arrive at this point. But we are looking forward to the challenge and will be seeking to get the refurbished bridge back in situ as soon as practicable.”
The nature of the lift next week is such that it will be necessary to close the road during the operation with a signed diversion in place.
The current pedestrian crossing arrangements that have necessitated 2-way lights will remain in place until the refurbished bridge is opened.
The bridge is 1 of 2 that cross the railway between Lake and Shanklin that is being refurbished this year. Work at nearby Alresford Bridge was completed earlier this month.
So, the works were due to finish (even after delays) on the 15th of May and there have been lights causing problems for months but the bridge isn’t even being moved until next week and won’t be back until at least June.
Either my calendar is broken, they have a time machine or those lights didn’t need to be there all those months.
I’d ask for an explanation but they’d only try to blame Covid so there’s no point.
The lights have been needed as the footway on the bridge was removed in the first week of work.
Diverting across the railway line would have made sense, but would cost more as its poorly lit and would have required lighting installed.
Thre is an Island company with the necessary certifications and capacity to do this work. Can’t believe the choice to go to the mainland was on economics.
I don’t see why they don’t make people cross the railway lines at the crossing then turn right through Lake Cliff Gardens back to the pavement then they won’t need those stupid traffic lights