Bridges: Monksdale & Millmead Roads

A new shared path for Bath and North East Somerset

New Bridges for the Two Tunnels Route

Update: scroll down for information on tree work and the bridges' construction.

Sustrans pair of planning applications - for the replacement bridges that will span two roads in Oldfield Park - Millmead Road and Monksdale Road - were successful, thanks to wide support from the public as well as from supporters of the Two Tunnels route.

After delays to the design owing to the need to accommodate services running beneath the sites, the first of the bridges is now under construction, with Millmead to follow.

Why does the route need bridges?

The current arrangements, for many, are no obstacle at all, so it can be difficult at first to see why the crossings actually need replacement bridges and new ramps.

The access ramps were built at a time when far less was known about accessibility - they're pretty steep. Something better's needed, because ramps, gates and road crossings can be a serious issue if you happen to have a pushchair/young children/pets - and may be a complete blocker if you happen to be a wheelchair user.

These will not be replacements of the narrow masonry arches of the originals. Instead, the proposal is to build out the existing embankment to close the gap to around thirty metres, and this will then be bridged with a steel span of a specific type - a 'Warren Truss' - here's more from 'Wisegeek' on Warren Truss bridges. A bridge of this type will be lighter than the original, but will be a good fit for the location - and they're commonly used in connection with railway works. A bollard at either end of each bridge will prevent vehicle access.

So let's build bridges

In the planning application, you'll find details of the design - for instance, the bridge spans will be supported on concrete plinth foundations within the tips of the embankment at either end. You'll also see that the existing slope will first be stripped and 'Stepped' to key the new material into the old railway earthworks - this is a high quality and secure approach to building earthworks: sometimes neglected, but not in this case.

These two bridges will be an asset to the route, and for you, if you use them for day to day travel. They'll help unify both Linear Park and the Two Tunnels route, we're pretty excited about them.

This work requires some trees to be removed

The first task is to clear the site, and you may be wondering why it's necessary to fell the trees. This is because when Linear Park was originally made the existing embankments were cut back to a (not so) gentle slope. 'Bridging the gap' involves first shortening the gap to be bridged - by reinstating to some extent the railway's original embankments. This would bury the existing tree trunks, which would result in disease and would kill them - tree trunks need to 'Breathe' - they evolved to survive in the open air.

Once the work to rebuild the bridges is complete, the contract includes the planting of replacement vegetation and native species trees and the visual impact will soon be softened by new growth.

Another aspect to this: the great majority of trees in Linear Park are unaffected - the work impacts on what is the edge of the slender woodland that lines much of the route. This means that species displaced by the work to the bridges can quickly recolonise the bridge sites from the existing habitat. One particular tree quite close to the Monksdale Road bridge site will be unaffected by the works, and we're glad that this particular specimen is outside the boundary of the bridge works (even though it's an oak and it's full of boatbuilding timber). When this part of Linear Park reopens, find this tree at the south side of the bridge, on the right hand side. If your eyes are very sharp, you might spot a bit of a mystery there too, you'll be standing on the site of another of the old railway's bridges - one that was lost completely some time ago. Look closely at what looks like a rabbit burrow close to the very 'Elbowy' oak tree there ...

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