Is the bridge saga coming to an end?

It would appear that the long-standing problem of Renwick Road Bridge which has dogged the businesses in Creekmouth is coming to an end.

The problem started in 2001 when Railtrack carried out structural testing on the bridge to assess whether the bridge could take the weight of the new higher level weight limit of HGVs. It decided that it could not and Railtrack therefore asked the council to limit traffic on the bridge to light vans and cars. The restriction was meant to last a year.

The year passed: the traffic restrictions remained. Then another year and another and another……..In the end the businesses had enough and came together to set up the Creekmouth Business Forum to campaign for a re-opening of the bridge. In short order the forum met with local MP Margaret Hodge, had a site meeting with Network Rail and enlisted the support of the Road Haulage Federation. Members of the forum also kept on the case by going up to meet Network Rail (Railtrack’s successor). The pressure was also kept up from the neighbouring Dagenham Dock Business Forum.

Persistence paid off: toward the latter end of this year, Network Rail announced a timetable for the necessary remedial work:

• The outline design for the bridge should be complete by January 2011
• The detailed design should be complete by April 2011
• Works to commence on site in August 2011
• Work to be complete in December 2011

Steve Smith, Chair of the Creekmouth Forum said “This sounds like great news. They have even given us a completion date. Dare I say it too soon, but getting together and having dialogue with the powers that be can actually lead to results. Well done Creekmouth Forum, Council, Councillors, M.P. and all!”