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Improvements to public transport are a key part of the
transport strategy to support the growth of Ashford. It will be
known as Smartlink and will use high quality buses. Newtown Road is
a key artery serving the Willesborough area but it is constrained
by a low level narrow width railway bridge.
Network Rail were proposing to replace the deck and the County
Council is taking the opportunity to gain extra headroom and
width.
The Government has provided £3m of Growth Area funding. Network
Rail is contributing the cost it would have incurred in replacing
the existing deck and a further £200,000 comes from the County
Council.
Network Rail will be leading on the scheme which involves an
innovative thin deck construction to achieve the extra
headroom.
Current situation
Newtown Road is due to be closed to Road Traffic on 11 February
2008 until October 2008. Pedestrian access will be maintained under
the bridge whilst the majority of the works are in progress.
Because of the nature of the works that will be carried out,
pedestrian access under the bridge will not be permitted on these
days.
Further night time working will be carried out at various times
during the week when the railway line is shut down. Unfortunately,
due to the nature of these works a certain amount of noise will be
generated by plant and machinery. This will be kept to an absolute
minimum. But our contractor will be instructing all the site
operatives to keep unnecessary noise nuisance such as shouting or
the use of mobile phones to a minimum.
The Southern Trains service between Ashford and Hastings will be
cancelled with a Rail Replacement Bus Service in
operation. |