THE ENGINEERING works for the essential replacement of Milford Road railway bridge is well underway this weekend.
Between Friday 15 and Monday 18 February, Network Rail engineers are demolishing the existing railway bridge deck – which carries the South Wales Main Line – and install a new, more resilient structure as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to improve the reliability of the railway.
For Network Rail teams to safely deliver the work, the A4076 at Milford Road railway bridge on Dredgeman Hill will be closed to all traffic, with the exception of residents within the road closure and emergency services, from 7pm on Friday 15 until 6am on Monday 18 February. A signposted road diversion route will be in place and a shuttle bus service will be in operation for pedestrians and cyclists needing to to get from one side of the bridge to the other.
Buses will replace trains between Whitland and Milford Haven on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February, and timetables will be amended so rail passengers are urged to check before travelling at nationalrail.co.uk.
Rhys Howells, scheme project manager for Network Rail in Wales and Borders, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We thank the local community, road users and rail passengers for bearing with us whilst we complete the essential renewal of Milford Road railway bridge.
“We understand that closing the road and railway for any length of time is inconvenient and we have been working closely with our partners to minimise disruption and to develop the diversionary route.”
The work forms part of the £4.25m upgrade project to improve the reliability of the railway in West Wales, which saw the successful replacement of Pembroke Road railway bridge in January.
Speaking on Monday, Rhys Howells, scheme project manager for Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We would like to thank the local community and rail passengers for bearing with us whilst we replaced Milford Road railway bridge.
“The previous bridge deck was nearing the end of its serviceable life and has now been replaced with a more resilient structure which will help to keep the railway in West Wales running reliably.”
These essential works form part of a £4.25m upgrade project to replace two bridges in Merlins Bridge, which also included the successful replacement of Pembroke Road railway bridge in January.
Finishing works, which include masonary repairs, track tamping and construction of retaining walls, continue at both Pembroke Road and Milford Road railway bridges.
To ensure all these works can be completed safely and effectively single lane traffic management will be in operation on Pembroke Road at the bridge and the A4076, at Milford Road bridge, intermittently overnight until the end of March 2019.
