With two busy footbridges closed for much needed refurbishment, a temporary pontoon bridge has been in place to enable continued crossing of the Droitwich canal in Worcestershire, UK.
Despite the challenging accessibility faced by the main contractor, the MURLAC site team has been able to provide a cost-effective, safe and efficient solution with the deployment of a CAT-3 stability check modular floating pontoon.
Having the temporary machine and pedestrian access in place while the full bridge replacement and remedial works to the towpath are carried out has successfully mitigated any unwanted traffic or long-term disturbance to neighbouring properties, whilst also maintaining safe access for the public across the Droitwich Canal
Councillor Mike Rouse, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said, “We know these footbridges are extremely well used, so it’s great that these works are pushing along nicely, and people will soon be able to benefit from the refurbishments to them.
The first footbridge is scheduled to re-open this month, with the second footbridge expected to be open again in May. The works have taken place at this time of year to take advantage of much lower use of the canal.
The Droitwich Canals were originally built to ship salt from the Droitwich mines to the River Severn. Made up of two canals – the Droitwich Barge Canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal - together they stretch 7.4 miles and link to both the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the River Severn. After failing into disrepair following the decline of trade along the canals in the early 1900’s, the canals were reopened in 2011 after decades of restoration work by the Droitwich Canals Trust.
