Black Cock Bridge Closure

[Shultzy]

Not sure how best to add this message on CP

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Tom Freeland C&RT Boating & Customer Service Manager West Midlands
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2022 at 16:28
Subject: Black Cock bridge closure, Daw End Branch

Thank you for patience while we pin down what's happening with Black Cock bridge this summer, and in particular the impact of the closure on BCN Society events.  As promised, I've discussed the options with our project manager, and have agreed the following:

    Navigation will remain open for your first Explorer Cruise, on the assumption you're travelling through on 8th May.
    The canal and towpath will be closed from 12th May, currently planned until 21st October
    Navigation won't be possible through the bridge throughout this period, although the canal won't be drained, and we'll only have to close a short section.  Details of appropriate winding on each side will be published on the official web notice early next week.
    The towpath will also be closed, although we're working on finding a suitable diversion; any information on this will be shared on the notice too.

The works are to replace the whole bridge deck, whilst retaining the abutments which will be reused.  Our condition analysis showed that the bridge is corroded beyond refurbishment, the concrete deck is failing, parapets need replacing, the wooden bearings supporting the bridge are rotten, and the steel structure is painted with contaminated paint. It is a cleaner approach to demolish the existing bridge deck and lift the steel structure out for it to be transported off site; the new bridge will be manufactured off site and delivered to lift straight into place.

The bridge is designed and has been approved – it copies the visual design of Hollanders Bridge which is about 1km away from BC Bridge. The new design is arched and is far more visually pleasing than the existing – see attached elevation. A work plan has been costed and agreed, planning permission secured, and we're working with Walsall Borough Council and our own Community Roots project to make sure local people are fully aware of the works.

Finally, our project manager told me  "We will endeavour to open both navigation and the towpath as soon as we possibly can. I am sure you all understand the demolition of the existing bridge and lifting in of the new bridge has an increased amount of risk, so there is not a chance of undertaking the task without these closures."

[Stephen Atty]

When they issue it as a closure notice it will be added

Which looks like it should happen next week.

[after=49313]
We can clone closures - which is what I did for Barton Aqueduct but in this case we'll wait until the notice comes out.

I've also signed up for the Avon Navigation closure notices so once I get a couple of those I'll build a parser - hopefully it won't be as messy as the CRT ones...