Network Rail’s Bromham Road Bridge Works to Begin on Monday March 4th

Network Rail's major works on Bromham Road Bridge begin tomorrow, Monday March 4th. This phase of works, which run until 18th April, involve the closure of the road westbound, out of town. Eastbound traffic, towards town, is not affected.

You can find out more about the works on Network Rail's website here: www.nr.co.uk/bromham

Mayor Dave Hodgson and Bedford Borough Council have been pressing Network Rail over a long period to do all it can to minimise the disruption that will be caused by these works.

Network Rail's replacement of Bromham Road Bridge, which will see bridge closed to traffic altogether this summer, will cause significant disruption. And Mayor Dave has expressed his frustration that not only will residents and visitors have suffer major inconvenience over an extended period, but Bedford is due to have a downgraded rail service after the work is finished.

Commenting, Mayor Dave said: "What's really sickening about Network Rail's works is that not only will they cause considerable disruption, we're due to get a downgraded rail service after it's finished, with the Government intent on almost completely removing Bedford from the intercity rail network.'

"The electrification of the line which is causing this bridge work should be going all the way to Sheffield as was originally promised, but instead it's going only to Corby. And under the government's plans for the next East Midlands rail franchise we will be served by 'commuter-style' trains between Corby and London, with almost no intercity trains to or from anywhere further north.'

"This is despite our growing population, the opportunities for interchanging at Bedford and our historic place in the intercity rail network.'

"We'll keep making that case, and in the meantime we will keep the pressure up on Network Rail to minimise disruption and inconvenience."