We would like to inform you that accident damage bridge repair works to Soulton Bridge, which carries the B5065 over Soulton Brook to the northeast of Wem, commence on Monday 3 September 2018.
The bridge parapet was extensively damaged in early November 2017 after a heavy goods vehicle collided with the upstream parapet of the bridge resulting in severe damage to the bridge spandrel and parapet. Traffic lights were erected in November 2017 and have remained in place since.
The repair works will involve rebuilding the upstream parapet and elevation using predominantly new stone, general repointing of the structure in lime mortar and resurfacing of the carriageway over the bridge.
Unfortunately in order to carry out the proposed work safety it will be necessary to close the bridge to vehicular traffic. The work is expected to last for up to six weeks.
Due to the nature of the repairs a road closure and traffic diversion will be required for the duration of the works. The planned diversion route will be from the B5065 onto the A49 back towards Shrewsbury then onto the B5063 into Wem and back onto the B5065 and vice versa. Access to frontages will be maintained up to the bridge closure. Access over the bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will remain available throughout the works.
Inevitably there will be some disruption during these works, for which we apologies in advance.
Regular updates on works progress will be made available on a weekly basis on this page.
Update 30 August 2018
Following further consultation with Shropshire Council’s permitting team and local businesses affected by the closure along the B5065 and we are now proposing to include an alternative HGV route and temporary one-way system in Wem.
The planned diversion route will be from the B5065 onto the A49 with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) being diverted towards Whitchurch then back towards Wem down the B5476. All other traffic is being diverted onto the A49 towards Shrewsbury and back into Wem along the B5065 and vice versa. The diversion route through Wem will incorporate a temporary one-way system along B5063 Aston Street, then onto B5476 New Street and back along Summerfield/Station Road. The one-way system has been agreed for safety reasons to safeguard road users and members of the public.
Update 6 September 2018
Works to repair damage at Soulton Bridge following damage caused by a HGV colliding with the bridge, commenced on 3 Sept 2018 and are due to take 6 weeks to complete.
The contractor has started to recover masonry stone from the water course and scaffolding is being erected to enable the masonry repair work to the downstream elevation to start. Whilst the bridge is being repaired the road is closed to traffic, but access over the bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained throughout the works.
Whilst the bridge is closed, traffic is being diverted from the B5065 onto the A49 with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) being diverted towards Whitchurch then back towards Wem down the B5476. All other traffic is being diverted onto the A49 towards Shrewsbury and back into Wem along the B5065 and vice versa. The diversion route through Wem incorporates a temporary one-way system along B5063 Aston Street, then onto B5476 New Street and back along Summerfield/Station Road. The one-way system has been agreed for safety reasons to safeguard road users and members of the public.
A number of issues were highlighted regarding the diversion route and the implementation of the temporary one-way system in Wem:
- Possibility to allow access onto Pyms Road for traffic heading south along the Whitchurch Road rather than enter the one-way system.
- Traffic travelling the wrong way along one-way system.
- Additional “No Entry” signs at key junctions.
- Increased traffic on Station Road and large vehicles turning onto Station Road and Aston Street.
Following comments and feedback received, the diversion route/one-way system has been amended to allow traffic to turn right off the Whitchurch Road and onto Pyms Road, reducing school traffic having to travel along Station Road and around the one-way system.
“No Entry Signs” have been erected at strategic points and other minor tweaks to the one-way system have been implemented allowing longer vehicles to more easily negotiate the turn into Station Road off Whitchurch Road.
The layout at the junction of Station Road to Aston Street has also been altered to alleviate the build-up of traffic when the rail crossing is in use.
WSP engineers and Kier will continue to monitor the traffic management within Wem and along the diversion route.
Update 14 September 2018
Works to repair damage at Soulton Bridge following damage caused by a HGV colliding with the bridge commenced on 3 Sept 2018, and are due to take six weeks to complete.
The erection of scaffolding and excavation of the carriageway has now been completed and the contractor has started to rebuild the upstream elevation using locally sourced stone to match the existing. Existing stone has been utilised to carry out low level repairs of the upstream left wing wall. While the bridge is closed to traffic, access over for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained.
Whilst the bridge is closed traffic is being diverted from the B5065 onto the A49 with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) being diverted towards Whitchurch then back towards Wem down the B5476. All other traffic is being diverted onto the A49 towards Shrewsbury, and back into Wem along the B5065 and vice versa. The diversion route through Wem incorporates a temporary one-way system along B5063 Aston Street, then onto B5476 New Street and back along Summerfield/Station Road. The one-way system has been agreed for safety reasons to safeguard road users and members of the public.
A number of issues have been highlighted regarding the traffic management and the implementation of the temporary one-way system in Wem:
- Traffic travelling the wrong way along one-way system along Aston St
- Traffic turning right into Station Road from B5063
- Traffic access to Wem Industrial Estate
- HGVs accessing through Park Road/Shrubbery Gardens
Following comments and feedback received, traffic travelling the wrong way along Aston St is being monitored and vehicles noted will be reported to the police.
An additional 'No Right Turning' sign has been erected at the B5063 /Station Road junction. A 'Business Open As Usual' sign has been erected at the Junction of Pyms Road/ Station Road for businesses along Soulton Road. A 'No HGV vehicles' sign is to be erected at the junction of Park Road/Aston Street.
WSP engineers and Kier will continue to monitor the traffic management within Wem and along the diversion route.
Update 20 September 2018
Works to repair damage at Soulton Bridge following damage caused by an accident, commenced on 3 Sept 2018 and are due to take 6 weeks to complete.
Work is progressing to programme, the erection of the new masonry stone work to the upstream wing walls, spandrels and parapet have been completed. Scaffolding erected to the upstream elevation has been raised to allow new copings to be laid to the new parapet. The high winds this week have caused some disruption to the temporary diversion route and one- way system by blowing signs down . Kier are continuing to monitor and maintain the diversion while the bridge is closed.
Traffic is being diverted from the B5065 onto the A49 with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) being diverted towards Whitchurch then back towards Wem down the B5476. All other traffic is being diverted onto the A49 towards Shrewsbury and back into Wem along the B5065 and vice versa. The diversion route through Wem incorporates a temporary one-way system along B5063 Aston Street, then onto B5476 New Street and back along Summerfield/Station Road. The one-way system has been agreed for safety reasons to safeguard road users and members of the public.
Update 28 September 2018
Works to repair damage at Soulton Bridge following damage caused by an accident commenced on 3 Sept 2018 and are due to take six weeks to complete.
Work is progressing to programme. The new coping stones to the upstream parapet and the tooling finish to the new masonry stone have been completed. The installation of the retaining gabion baskets adjacent to the bridge have been completed. The contractor has undertaken some block repairs and is reinstating the verge material and surfacing.
Traffic is being diverted from the B5065 onto the A49 with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) being diverted towards Whitchurch, then back towards Wem down the B5476. All other traffic is being diverted onto the A49 towards Shrewsbury and back into Wem along the B5065, and vice versa. The diversion route through Wem incorporates a temporary one-way system along the B5063 (Aston Street), then onto the B5476 (New Street) and back along Summerfield/Station Road. The one-way system has been agreed for safety reasons to safeguard road users and members of the public. Kier continues to monitor and maintain the diversion while the bridge is closed.
Update 9 October 2018
Work to repair Soulton Bridge will be completed by the end of the day. The temporary traffic management will be removed earlier than programmed on the 10 October 2018.
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