Larger boats can pass through Reedham swing bridge again after Network Rail finished fixing a major mechanical fault.
The 123-year-old bridge, which carries trains over the River Yare as well as swinging open for the safe passage of larger boats, was being affected by problems with its central bearing. The bearing forms part of the main pivot and helps to support the structure as it opens and closes.
Fixing the bridge involved removing the old bearing and installing a new one as part of a complex programme of engineering over several weeks. The new bearing was installed during the August bank holiday weekend, with engineers completing testing and commissioning ahead of schedule to bring the bridge back into operation before the expected date in mid-September.
Although the bridge couldn’t be swung for most of the summer, Network Rail worked closely with the Broads Authority to carry out three scheduled swings at the end of July and the start of August, with around 30 boats passing through. The pre-arranged swings were dependent on extensive tests carried out by engineers to check that the bridge could be swung on a limited basis without damaging the structure further. Smaller boats were able to navigate underneath the bridge throughout the repair period.
Joe Kennedy, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “This was a major, complex repair of a bridge that is both a critical piece of infrastructure and an important heritage landmark for the region. Our teams worked hard to get Reedham swinging again, but we’re so sorry for the disruption to boat users, passengers and neighbours while we got the job done.”
Rob Rogers, director of delivery for the Broads Authority, said: “The Authority is pleased to learn that the repair of the bridge has been successfully completed ahead of schedule. The inconvenience caused to owners of larger boats unable to pass whilst it was out of action is regrettable. We extend our thanks to those affected for their patience and to Network Rail in dealing with the challenges of such a complex repair on an old, iconic structure.”
Operators will monitor the bridge at Reedham closely while it starts swinging regularly again. Following major repairs, heritage swing bridges can experience some smaller reliability issues for a time, especially when they have been out of action over an extended period. Hot weather restrictions on the bridge will also apply as normal – the bridge can’t be swung if temperatures get too high because its main structures and rails expand in the heat.
Image credit: Network Rail