| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by Mark A at 12:40, 24th November 2025 |     |
Replacement bridge requires piling to 35 metres depth.
Mark
| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by Phantom at 11:03, 24th November 2025 | |
It's not that far from where I live and the roads are already much busier just from the temporary traffic lights that have been in place for the past couple of weeks
It is not far from WSM FC (old Westlands property) but for anyone coming into Weston there is a new link road into that area (on the old airfield), it is really those coming from town heading out to that area that will impacted.
It does amaze me how long it is taking to complete
| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by Oxonhutch at 10:08, 24th November 2025 | |
North Somerset Website
History of Winterstoke Road bridge
Winterstoke Road bridge was originally built between 1941 and 1943 by the War Office (now Ministry of Defence). It was built to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare.
Access provided by the bridge was critical in supporting the war effort as the factory produced the Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.
The bridge was built by William Cowlin & Sons, with nearby railway sidings built by George Pollard & Co of Taunton using steel produced by Lysaght.
In the early 1950s the Ministry of Defence opened the bridge to the public, renaming the route Winterstoke Road.
In the intervening years Winterstoke Road has served as an important transport route in Weston-super-Mare.
Meanwhile, the aircraft industry continued in the local area for many years including sites for aircraft maintenance and Westland Helicopters on the site of the former RAF Weston-super-Mare.
In 2018, the age and condition of the bridge meant that a 7.5T weight restriction was put in place.
Now that the bridge is over 80 years old, it must be replaced if this important transport route in Weston-super-Mare is to remain open.
| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by John D at 08:05, 24th November 2025 | |
Quite unusual, built during world war 2, replacement being part funded by Ministry of Defence.
Does anyone know the history of this, I realise there was an airfield nearby, and some of the munitions / war components factories were near areas with lots of Boarding houses to house the workers. But no idea specifically on this.
| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by grahame at 07:44, 24th November 2025 | |
That's on the Weston avoider line, and is close to road vehicle traffic for two years. No closure to rail traffic announced though I would suspect that there will be some engineering works that mean trains can't go that way - divert through WSM station?
| Re: Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by bradshaw at 07:28, 24th November 2025 | |
Report on BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx23ln9klpzo
And on Somerset Council website
https://n-somerset.gov.uk/business/regeneration-development/winterstoke-road-replacement-bridge-scheme
| Winterstoke railway bridge, Weston super mare closed for two years. Posted by infoman at 06:14, 24th November 2025 | |
being reported on local radio channels
