Cranes begin removing ageing rail footbridge

A major crane operation has began to replace a 79-year-old footbridge with a modern accessible crossing.

Hampshire County Council said removing the ageing structure at Havant train station, located between Elmleigh Road and North Street, was scheduled between Monday and Thursday and would be "one of the most significant and visible stages of the project".

The authority said two large cranes would dismantle and remove the 185-metre-long bridge and connecting ramps in a series of planned lifts.

The replacement is expected to take up to 12 months to complete and the new crossing is envisioned to be more accessible for cyclists, wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

The council said the bridge, which spans the railway line, was showing "currently relies on temporary structural support to remain safe for use".

It planned the engineering operation with contractor GRAHAM to ensure the work can be carried out safely alongside Network Rail's own activities.

The main crane, with a vertical lift capacity of 650 tonnes, will be positioned in the station forecourt, while a second crane, with a lift capacity of 150 tonnes, will operate from Elmleigh Road car park to remove sections of the bridge on the north side of the railway.

The £12.8m scheme is funded through a combination of Department for Transport grant funding, developer contributions, and £2.8m million from Havant Borough Council's Community Infrastructure Levy Fund.

Council deputy leader Kirsty North said the lifting operations would depend on factors including weather conditions and wind speeds and plans might change at short notice.

"It is a highly complex engineering operation which can only take place when the railway line is fully closed, so it is being carried out in close coordination with Network Rail's own programme of works taking place over the October half term holidays.

"We appreciate that residents and businesses may experience some disruption while this important stage of the project is carried out and would like to thank the local community for their ongoing patience and understanding."

The council said the new crossing would be "twice as wide as the existing structure and feature gentler ramps, making it more accessible for cyclists, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, as well as people travelling with prams or pushchairs".