Boundary Road to close for three months from Monday
Network Rail confirm closure to carry out works ahead of bridge replacement
A VITAL road in Newbury will close for three months from Monday.
The closure of Boundary Road, located yards away from Newbury Racecourse, will coincide with one of the venue’s busiest periods, which includes the Party in the Paddock and the Dubai International Arabian Raceday in July and Ladies Day in August.
Network Rail needs to shut the road to divert utility services ahead of the railway bridge being replaced.
The bridge will close again at a later date, for a time which has not yet been determined, to allow for the replacement of the bridge ahead of electrification. A letter has been sent out to local residents and businesses informing them of the schedule of works.
The letter from Network Rail, dated July 5, confirms that the closure will start at 10am on Monday and warns that the initial work, which will take place over three to four days, will be “relatively noisy”.
It adds that a signed diversion will be put in place for vehicles during the three-month period.
Access to Railway Road and properties immediately adjacent to the bridge will be maintained, however there will be occasions when access to house frontages to the south of the bridge will be affected for a few days.
The residents involved will be contacted at least two weeks prior to any work starting directly outside their properties to explain what is happening and to agree alternative parking.
At the end of the three months the bridge will be reopened to vehicles and pedestrians until Network Rail is ready to demolish and renew the bridge. A further letter will then be issued advising of the nature of these works and the expected duration.
Previously, there been confusion over which dates the bridge would be closed. Signs were put up warning motorists that the road would be closed from June 1 to October 31. However, on June 1 the bridge remained open and the signs were subsequently taken away.