Message from Bob Bosley Project Engineer, West Berkshire Council Transport and Countryside Department:
Network rail are replacing an agricultural bridge across the railway line at Hungerford Common, as part of the railway upgrade. The work will require a new bridge deck to be lifted into place and due to the distance of the lift it will need a large crane. This work is timed to take advantage of the closure of the line.
The crane will arrive in Hungerford at about 0900 on Sunday 7th October. It will arrive from the A4 into the A338 High street. Due to its length the crane will not be able to turn into Park Street but will have to drive past the junction and then reverse into Park Street and to the site on Hungerford common, this is normal procedure for such a large piece of equipment.
To facilitate the movement the following actions will be required.
- Some minor pieces of street furniture will be removed from the Park Street junction, these will be replaced when the crane leave the site.
- Parking on Park Street will be suspended for the morning of the cranes arrival and departure.
- There will be a temporary hold of traffic on the A338 High street whilst the crane reverses into Park Street, this could last up to 15 minutes.
- There will be a temporary closure of Park Street, from the Inkpen Road on the common to High street, no formal diversion route will be signed but marshals will be in attendance and traffic will be directed to use Inkpen Road and Priory Road.
There will also be other large loads associated with the work arriving on the 7th but these are not expected to cause any problems. The crane will leave the site via similar procedure on Thursday 11th October.
