A temporary footbridge at Brading Train Station could remain in situ for another 12 months, as Network Rail applies for permission to extend its presence beyond what is already permitted.
The Isle of Wight Council granted permission for the structure to be put in place back in March of last year, with the condition that it would be removed within 12 months of erection.
However, Network Rail says the temporary bridge is required to stay in its location for another 12 months.
The poor condition of the Grade II listed permanent bridge at Brading meant that the temporary bridge had to be installed to enable repair works. The permanent structure is being strengthened to modern standards as part of the £26million upgrade of Island Line.
It was originally envisaged that the temporary bridge would be required for approximately 6 months – so the scheme has already taken twice as long as first planned.
Permission is now being sought to enable the temporary structure to remain until 15th May 2023 – 24 months after it was first put in place.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY – Network Rail has confirmed that the discovery of bad footings has led to the project’s delay.
A spokesperson for Network Rail has told Island Echo:
“We’ve applied to extend the length of time the temporary footbridge is up at Brading after our Ground Investigation surveys came back with bad news about the state of the footings we would be putting the new bridge on.
“When the station was built in the 1860s, it was constructed to the standards of the time. The platforms were basic walls, with the middle sections filled in with whatever material was to hand, often spoil from other worksites or even locomotive ash. While those standards were fine for the time – and supported the old footbridge – they are not good enough for the type of bridges we build today. As a result, we need to change the design of the proposed footbridge and create a design for a pad foundation to support it.
“The reason for seeking planning permission for the temporary bridge is that Brading station is a listed building and if we make any changes to designs, or even how long structures are in place, we need to seek permission.
“Once we’ve got new designs, we’ll have a good idea of timescales and we can let everyone know when the new bridge will be ready!”
Who cares use the crossing
It’s a railway station.
Can Coppins Bridge do something similar? The only hold ups on the roundabout, in the morning, are pedestrians pressing the buttons to cross. Every morning, so a bridge would would be amazing
If it’s going to take two years to strengthen the bridge at Brading Station, how long do you think it would take them to build a footbridge at Coppins Bridge roundabout? We’d be talking decades.
So basically they have done nothing for a year, and want another year to do nothing?
Two years to strengthen a bridge? How on earth can it take two years?
And why isn’t the existing design of bridge footings considered ‘good enough’ for the bridge now? They’ve lasted since 1860 which I’m going to take a wild guess and say is going to be a lot longer than anything they do now.