Council leaders have called for Network Rail (NR) to commit to replacing a removed pedestrian bridge in Watford.
The Oxhey Grange footbridge was removed on September 20 after engineers worked through the night to complete the operation.
The structure had been closed since July after a routine inspection uncovered it was unsafe, with further assessments identifying significant structural deterioration.
Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor and Three Rivers District Council leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE have urged the rail company to speed up the replacement process, with both councils bordering the bridge.
Councillor Giles-Medhurst said: “This is a vital route for residents, who can’t be left with the uncertainty of if or when it will be returned. NR needs to confirm when the bridge will be replaced.”
The Mayor added: “This is a really important bridge, especially for families taking children to Bromet School. While it was right for NR to act quickly to close and remove the dangerous bridge, we need similar swift action to ensure it is replaced.”
The pedestrian structure was dismantled before being lifted out in one piece by a specialist 1,200-tonne heavy-lift crane, and NR West Coast South Route Director Gary Walsh said the operation was complex.
NR has confirmed it will replace the bridge but has not given a date, promising only to build it “as soon as reasonably practicable”. They added they would continue engaging with local stakeholders as plans for a future replacement crossing are developed.
Feature image: Peter Taylor
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