New bridge arrives in Boscastle
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Author: |
Paul Gainey |
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Date published: |
14-Dec-2007 |
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Keywords: |
Boscastle bridge, Carilion, Gordon Trapmore, National Trust |
The installation will depend on the completion of preliminary works in the river and weather conditions on the day.
Environment Agency contractors Carilion will carry out the whole operation which is expected to take a day to complete. The bridge will be brought into the heart of the village in two pieces on articulated lorries, before being lifted into place by a giant crane.
The new lower bridge is an important part of the £4.6 million flood defence scheme, as it will span a channel specially widened to help reduce flood risk to local residents, homes and businesses near the harbour. It will carry traffic as well as pedestrians and will replace the existing bridge.
The £400,000 bridge has been built off site by Cornish Concrete Products, based in
The complexity of the procedure means one part of the bridge has to be lowered and secured in place before the lorry makes a repeat trip for the second section. Once the whole new deck is in position, additional works will be necessary to weather-proof and secure the new bridge, which crosses the river near the site of the old bridge in the lower harbour area.
The existing lower bridge was damaged in the flood of August 2004 and planning permission was granted for its demolition and replacement.
‘The installation of the bridge is the final part of the flood defence scheme for Boscastle and is an essential element of the scheme. We can now ensure that the local residents, homes and businesses in the harbour area will benefit from the flood defences as well as those further up the valley,’ said Gordon Trapmore for the Environment Agency.
‘We have worked closely with the local community, the National Trust and the Boscastle Bridge Working Group on the design of the new bridge: It was important to ensure that the design met practical needs but in doing so, did not detract from the overall attractiveness of the harbour area.’
Andrew Davey, of the National Trust, said this simple design is honest, unpretentious and sensitive, ensuring that the views upstream and down towards the harbour are retained, with as much openness to the design as possible. ‘This design has been significantly modified to address the valid points made by the community in response to an earlier design.‘
Andrew Davey continued: ‘We feel the arrival of the new bridge is an important step in the restoration of the harbour area, and recognise that today represents a significant moment in the whole project, where we can say we are finally on the ‘home-run’ to the completion of the scheme.’
The road leading to Boscastle on the north side is already disrupted by works between the car park and the main bridge and during the delivery of the bridge, sections of the southern approach road will also be closed for several hours.
Ends
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Doc reference: |
183/07 |
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Contact: |
