Bromham Road Railway Bridge Rebuild
The railway line through Bedford currently divides the growing west side of the town from the railway station and town centre. This is particularly acute for cyclists, many of whom are children, who have to use the Bromham Road railway bridge with the choice between using the carriageway in amongst the heavy traffic, walking across with their bike or illegally riding across on the north side footpath.
Cyclists have been waiting since the late 1990s for the opportunity to have a safe cycle route across the bridge.
The first opportunity to have a three metre wide cycle/pedestrian bridge constructed came in 2001 as part of the Allen’s factory site development in Queens Park, the land bordered by Hurst Grove and the railway line. This was lost in 2003 at the last stage of a planning appeal made by the developer into the application for the site’s development.
Nine years later the current opportunity came with the Department for Transport’s commitment to electrify the Midland Mainline to Sheffield in their High Level Output document of 2012 and the need to raise the bridge. Due to Government concerns of Network Rail's budget overruns there was a short pause in the project between July and November 2015 and it was scaled down to provide electrification only as far as Corby with an opening date put back one year to 2020.
Network Rail have been aware since 2012 of the original County Council and the new 2009 Borough Council's and cyclists requirements – a wider north path (three metres or wider) which could be used as a dual use pedestrian/cycle path and an underpass from Spencer Road to the station car park.
After waiting seven years for a plan of the proposed bridge rebuild to become available one was suddenly produced when Network Rail announced at short notice a Public Consultation on 20 April 2018 followed by a further one on 24 May 2018 for everybody to share opinions about their proposal.
The proposal was to demolish the existing brick arch piers of the bridge to approximately half way and replace by pre-cast reinforced concrete cill and riser units mounted on the existing brick piers. The new bridge would consist of pre cast reinforced concrete beams to form the deck and pre-cast reinforced concrete parapets. It has been estimated that the road would be closed for 6 months with transfer of services taking an additional 7 months. A temporary pedestrian bridge would be provided which could also be used by walking cyclists.
The plan submitted showed a bridge 501mm wider (later quoted as 600mm) and 320mm higher than the current bridge with a two metre path on each side of the carriageways but with no cycle infrastructure provided as requested. The extra width had been used to increase the width of the south side path from one and a half metres to two metres while leaving the north side path at the same width (two metres) as at present.
In the meantime a screening opinion for the bridge rebuild had been requested on Bedford Borough Council on 11 April 2018 under planning application number 18/00918/EIASCR. Although both CCNB and CPRE’s (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’s) representations were taken into account, the conclusion on 11 May 2018 was that the local planning authority did not require an Environmental Statement to accompany a planning application for the development. This was confirmed by the Department for Transport on 21 May 2018.
On 22 June 2018 Network Rail submitted an application to the Secretary of State for Transport for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in order to confer powers and deemed planning permission to enable work to be carried out for the Bromham Road bridge rebuild (as well as for the stopping up of Souldrop level crossing). Objections, representations and letters of support for the application could be made until 3 August 2018.
Details of the application with all its accompanying documents, one of which (NR05) contained an analysis of the responses received by Network Rail, including those from the two consultation events, can be seen here.
A total of 399 responses were received by Network Rail for the bridge rebuild and characterised under 11 headings:
Increased congestion (due to the lengthy bridge closure) ............. 152
New cycleway on the bridge ...........................................................145
Impact on parking .............................................................................43
Construction methodology ................................................................38
Further details of proposals requested .............................................36
Reduced intercity train services ........................................................30
Duration of works ..............................................................................27
Environmental impact .......................................................................25
Improved communication regarding events ......................................12
Cycling underpass ..............................................................................9
Impact on local community .................................................................5
Network Rail’s official response to the two issues raised by CCNB’s were:
Cycle facilities across bridge
The rebuilt bridge deck structure will be wider than the existing by approximately 600mm, and although dedicated cycle lanes will not be provided, this could potentially provide more space for cyclists [It was noted in the earlier documentation that the extra width would be 501mm but had been increased in a later documents to 600mm].
Widening the bridge greater than the current proposal of 600mm increase would require full demolition and rebuild from the ground upwards. It would also require amendments to the existing approach road alignment to cater for the wider road profile, which would require the acquisition of additional land and impact on nearby residential properties. This option would be more costly to the tax payer, it will take far longer to construct and increase disruption to road and rail users. The provision of a new dedicated cycleway and segregated pedestrian footway would be an enhancement and sits outside the current scope and funding for this scheme, particularly as this structure is not in Network Rail’s ownership. No feasibility studies have been undertaken to determine whether this option is workable.
Cycle underpass
An underpass was considered, which would connect into Bedford Station from Spencer Road. This was discussed with Bedford Borough Council at a time when the Council was considering funding enhancement elements to align with Network Rail’s deck reconstruction work. This option was ruled out as it was considered more complex and higher in cost than both parties were prepared to accept at the time.
The proposed route for an underpass did not provide a suitable safe alignment for users because of the location of the existing piers and its alignment to existing infrastructure. A number of local residents were opposed to an underpass which might create more opportunities for anti-social behaviour. The same responses were given to all consultees making the same comment including those of Bedford Borough Council. CCNB suggestions based on the above responses: Cycleway width across bridge If the extra width was added to the north side footpath instead of the south side this would give a width of 2,600mm. If no further width could be found it should be possible to reduce the carriageway width to give the minimum width of 3500mm recommended for a dual use facility against a high vertical structure.
Network Rail have suggested that a feasibility study should be undertaken by the borough for a separate footpath or cycleway next to the bridge. This was in fact done by Bedfordshire Highways (Amey) for the borough in 2010-2011.
Underpass alternative One of the schemes in the borough’s Transporting Bedford 2020 project is to signalise the two mini-roundabouts at the junction of Bromham Road with Ashburnham Road and Shakespeare Road. As an alternative to an underpass a Toucan crossing over Bromham Road could be installed in the vicinity of Chaucer Road with a ramped link to the station car park to allow cyclists from the west and the north to easily access the station. The crossing would also enable cyclists from the town centre on the on-road cycle lane on Bromham Road to cross over to the north side off-road path over the bridge. A crossing at this point was first put forward by the then North Bedfordshire Borough Council way back in 1977 and again in 1999 as part of a Railtrack project to improve access to stations.
the bridge. Public Inquiry On 22 June 2018 Network Rail submitted an application to the Secretary of State for Transport for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in order to confer powers and deemed planning permission to enable work to be carried out for the Bromham Road bridge rebuild. CCNB and others made a representation to this application within the 42 day period consultation (3 August 2018) objecting to the lack of cycle infrastructure across the bridge. The outcome of objections can result in three options (1) hold a public inquiry, (2) hold a hearing, or (3) exchange written representations between relevant parties. On 31 August 2018 It was announced by the Secretary of State that a public local inquiry would be held as required by rule 4 of the Transport and Works (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2004, S.I. No. 2018 (“the Inquiries Rules”). It was announced on 14 November 2018 that this would take place on 5 February 2019 at the Park Inn in St Mary's Street, Bedford. Separate Cycle Bridge On 18 September 2018, Bedford’s Mayor, Dave Hodgson, announced a project to build a dedicated cycle and pedestrian bridge alongside the road bridge. The announcement added that Network Rail had agreed to this and may allow the foundations of the temporary bridge required for pedestrians during the rebuild of the main bridge to remain in place. At Bedford Borough’s Executive meeting on 19 September 2018 it was agreed that the Bromham Road Cycle Bridge should be added to the Borough’s Capital Programme for the year’s 2018/2019 to 2020/2021 at a net cost of £3 million. A consultation was published on 29 November 2018 asking the general public if they believe there is a need for a bridge and the extent that they support or oppose funds being taken frm the Capital Budget to pay for it. Of those residents that replied 64% supported the decision to proceed with the proposals against 19% who did not. It will now be subject to the statutory planning process which will give an opportunity for comments on more detailed plans. The proposed site on the east side in Spencer Road has a number of mature London Planes next to it which wll make it difficult, although not impossible, to construct a separate bridge. The trees have had a Tree Preservation Order (TRO) placed on them on 2 August 2018 although it has now been removed from the three parallel to Bromham Road. On the west side there is a terrace of houses in Granet Close. For these reasons CCNB believes that the cycle/pedestrian path across the railway line MUST be constructed as part of the main bridge rebuild. Back to CampaigningBack to top