Council Presses for Bridge Paperwork Amid Delays

A local council has stated that the necessary documentation to ensure a new bridge, already experiencing delays, adheres to safety regulations is progressing “longer than anticipated”. Guildford Borough Council had previously disclosed that the Ash Road Bridge’s opening for vehicular traffic was rescheduled from November to the new year. Furthermore, in its most recent statement, the local authority urged Network Rail and Surrey County Council to “get all the necessary paperwork in place”. Surrey County Council (SCC) and Network Rail were both contacted for a statement. The construction of the bridge, undertaken by the contractor VolkerFitzpatrick, commenced last year. This structure is designed to eliminate the requirement for vehicles to utilize a level crossing in Ash, which experiences closures for as long as 25 minutes hourly. However, pedestrians and cyclists will retain the ability to traverse the railway via the existing level crossing. A spokesperson representing Guildford stated: “To open the bridge, Network Rail and Surrey County Council need to ensure it is safe, complies with regulations and get all the necessary paperwork in place.” They added that “Some of these actions are taking longer than anticipated.” For further updates, follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Story suggestions can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.