A417 Challow (Rail Bridge) Closure

The Parish Council have been notified about the upcoming Challow Rail Bridge Closure and would like to pass on the following information to residents.

Quote :-
Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you to ensure that you have the latest information on the forthcoming closure of the A417 at Challow to allow Network Rail to undertake work as part of their electrification programme.

As you know, the A417 must be closed during work to raise the bridge to the required height to accommodate electric wires as part of Network Rail’s major railway upgrade.

The county council and Network Rail appreciate the inconvenience that the closure will cause to local people and to those who use the A417 as part of their daily commute. Although there is no alternative to closing the road, we have been keen to do what we can in advance of the work starting to mitigate the impacts.

The county council has been working closely with Network Rail, local councillors and the local communities to ensure that traffic affected by the closure of the road is managed effectively and that concerns raised as part of the planning process have been incorporated as far as possible to mitigate the impacts on local people.

The attached plan details the proposed traffic management Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs), but the following summary may be helpful. We will also be sending you a copy of the plans showing the proposed signage on the route within the next couple of days.

Traffic management
General non-local traffic will be redirected along a signed diversion route via the A417, A420, A415 and A338 while local traffic, such as residents and businesses who need access to their properties, will be able to use smaller side roads. These side roads will be subject to weight restrictions which will prevent vehicles such as HGVs using them, although exemptions will apply for local access.

Traffic conditions will be monitored as the work progresses and, if the need arises, it will be possible for other temporary restrictions to be introduced on the smaller side roads to tackle problems such as through traffic causing congestion or the difficulty drivers experience passing on narrower stretches. We have already included a temporary one-way round Kingston Lisle and Baulking which we have done as a precaution, but would only be used if absolutely necessary and traffic conditions dictated.

Public transport
Commercial and subsidised services – Disruption to bus services as a result of the closure of the A417 at Challow Bridge is expected to be minimal. We are currently working on a revised timetable for the Thames Travel service 67A and 67B which are likely to operate between East Challow and Stanford-in-the-Vale via Goosey and Denchworth. Departure times from Wantage and Faringdon will remain mostly unchanged, but one or two journeys will leave slightly earlier. Journeys times on 67A and 67B journeys will be extended by around 15 minutes as a result of the diversion, and passengers are advised to check the revised timetables on the Thames Travel or traveline websites in the days before the closure begins. We will provide more information to you on timetable revisions as it becomes available.

Stanford-in-the-Vale Community Minibus also operates a few journeys via Challow Bridge. It is anticipated that these will also divert via Denchworth and Goosey and that the organisation has notified or will notify its regular customers of any changes to their schedules.

Home to School Buses – Any changes to the times and route of the school bus affected by this closure will be advised directly to schools and parents.

Keeping you informed
The county council and Network Rail plan to keep you informed about the progress of the bridge work and will email you as and when we have information that we think will be of use to you.

If you have any queries about the work taking place in your area please call Network Rail’s dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41
Or email crwest@networkrail.co.uk For further information visit www.networkrail.co.uk/greatwesternelectrification

Informing the public
The county council and Network Rail will be providing information to the travelling public through a range of channels and will be encouraging people to plan their journeys in advance and, as far as possible, to look to other routes and other modes of transport to avoid congestion.

Kind regards.

Mark Kemp
Commercial
Deputy Director of Environment & Economy
Oxfordshire County Council
Speedwell House
Speedwell Street
Oxford
OX1 1NE

Tel 01865 815845

Relevant Documents

Map of the area affected T2352 Publicity Plan v2

list of restrictions

Notice 4 MDH

 

 

 

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