Find out more about essential maintenance work to historic Cookham Bridge

[Cookham Webmaster]

Find out more about essential maintenance work to historic Cookham Bridge
 
A series of drop-in events are being held for the community to find out more about essential maintenance work to the historic Cookham Bridge.
 
This important refurbishment project will help extend the life of the Grade II* listed structure, ensuring the bridge continues to serve the community for many years to come and will avoid more disruptive work in future years.
 
The works are subject to planning permission and, if approved, the project is due to get underway in October and include bearing replacement, re-waterproofing, resurfacing and joint replacement. The bridge is due to close on Monday 16 October for approximately 20 weeks to motor vehicles during the work, but pedestrian access will remain. Cyclists will need to dismount before crossing the bridge.
 
Access to any properties or business within the closure area will be maintained at all times. The diversion route will follow the A4094 south from Cookham, west along the A4 Bath Road, north on the A404, and then along the A4155 Marlow Road, with this route in reverse for traffic on the northern side of the bridge.
 
There will be an opportunity for communities to find out more about the project and have the chance to ask questions at a series of drop-in events being held on both the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire side of the bridge.
 
These will be held at:
 
Tuesday 18 July - 4pm to 7pm (Holy Trinity Church, Ferry Lane, Cookham)
Wednesday 26 July - 4pm to 7pm (Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road)
Monday 4 September - 4pm to 7pm (Holy Trinity Church, Ferry Lane, Cookham)
Tuesday 5 September - 4pm to 7pm (Bourne End Community Centre)
Communities and businesses will be notified in advance of any work starting to minimise disruption as much as possible, and advance road signage will be in place prior to work commencing to help motorists plan their journeys.

Information will also be available on the council’s website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/cookhambridge

Councillor Geoff Hill, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Routine inspections have identified the need for essential maintenance to this historic bridge. If left unattended, extensive and longer-term strengthening works would be required in future. By making this investment now, we can ensure the bridge is fit for purpose for everyone to use for decades to come and avoid more disruptive work in future years.
 
“This project will extend the life of the bridge, maintaining a key route and connection for residents, businesses, as well as visitors to our borough. While I understand that a project of this scale will bring some temporary disruption for road users, residents and businesses in the area, we will be striving to keep this to a minimum and will be working hard to provide as much information as possible both locally, and to surrounding communities, in a clear and timely manner in advance of any work taking place, and as this project proceeds.
 
“If you live in the vicinity of Cookham Bridge, please do come along to one of the drop-in sessions to find out more. There will be the opportunity to look at the plans in more detail and ask the project team questions.”

[Birdman]

Aha - the truth outs. Not the 4 or 5 weeks initially hinted at! So this begs the question - after what will probably be more like 6 months without the bridge, what will we get afterwards. Will it be just a better-painted version of the existing format, or is the opportunity going to be taken to get back to the two-way usage it historically had? If it is going to be stripped back as much as hinted at, is beyond the wit of the contractor to widen it a metre or so to enable both-way traffic once again? That at least will be some  reward for the chaos those 6 months will cause for many commuters and local businesses.

At least this will afford some improvement given the likely huge increase in traffic when the large housing plans on both sides eventually get approved. Can we lose this last opportunity to prepare for that?

Is Cookham Crier on duty still as was the case in 2000 when the bridge became restricted?

Perhaps we should be offered a vote on this?

[lizzyk]

If I remember last time, because the bridge is grade 2 listed, they were not allowed to use modern materials and had to use original materials. This meant a weak bridge. I cannot see them allowing it to be two way again as long as English Heritage is involved.

[Watchman]

Frankly, I'd much prefer the bridge to be ONE WAY TRAFFIC ONLY - controlled by traffic lights, as it is right now.
Should the Holland Farm development in Bourne End get approval, the one-way system might deter some of the
expected additional traffic, as the waiting time to allow traffic flow would probably be far too long to deter drivers.

The one-way system also has a calming effect on the traffic, providing the traffic lights are adhered to.

However, SIX months to repair a bridge?!
Somehow that seems to be an overly long time - unless the work is scheduled to be done by 2 workers working 4 hours a day !!