There were cheers all round when the steel beams went in at the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest restoration project in West Sussex.
Thanks to the deluge of rain and storms seen over December, January and February, work on creating Harsfold Bridge, near Wisborough Green, had been “hard going”, according to project manager Dennis Gillen.
The compound, which is close to the River Arun, just escaped being flooded out, but the mix of clay and rain meant the construction site was a mud bath and delivery trucks and lorries struggled to reach the site.
“Water runs down the lane and onto the site,” says Dennis, “and we have constantly had to maintain the access lane to get the delivery trucks through.”
Despite the setbacks, the EWG working party carrying out the construction have made good progress, and the installation of the steel bridge deck beams in early March was a key element of the construction schedule. “We’ve got the critical parts out of the way,” reported Dennis.
Since work began in September a footpath and bridleway diversion has been created, the main foundations have been laid and both abutments built and the brick/block wing walls to the north and south progressed. The next step will be the erection of the formwork and concrete pour (18 cubic metres) of the bridge deck, once self-distancing restrictions are lifted.
The accommodation bridge will replace a causeway and allow restoration of the canal beneath. It will carry hay trailers (weighing 32 tonnes and spanning four metres), and meet public bridleway requirements.
All the work has been carried out by volunteers and Dennis paid tribute to them and their efforts. “Everyone comes and gets on with it and does a good job. They are all very skilled and great volunteers.”