Sunday, October 7, 2012

Wreake Bridge Replacement

On a beautiful autumn morning we decided to take a walk along the new path from Platt's Lane in Cossington, along the canal and picking up the new NCN48 Connect2 path into Syston (for a pint at the Dog & Gun). 

I wanted to see how the towpath was now that the tarmac had been laid, and to look at what stage the bridge replacement was at.

As you can see it is a very wide area now, this has been achieved by managing the hedge and reinforcing the bank, which has reclaimed and widened the path. Its a very smooth surface and is suitable for all users. My only concern is when its frosty it may well become very slippery, maybe a few grit bins could be installed?

I was particularly taken with the way they had finished the tarmac short of the Armco reinforcing, adding a soil strip, which as you can see at the top of the photo is starting to see signs of grass growing. Once established this will give a more natural edge to the path and soften the lines. 



Work on the replacement bridge over the river Wreake is well under way. A wide access ramp on the Cossington side is taking shape and there is currently a diversion along the adjacent field edge to allow construction.

On Meadow Lane there is a temporary roadway to the site to allow construction materials (and the new bridge) to be brought to the site.

The bridge is currently still accessible but will be closed for a short while when the new span is swung into place (no date for this is available as yet).

Once over the bridge the towpath continues as it was before. We picked up NCN48 at Meadow Lane and followed it all the way into Syston, crossing the Fosse Way and along the new path under the railway. The engineers have made an excellent job of the very limited space here, with a path that has a flood relief brook to one side and a railway arch to the other.

To gain much needed space the rail to the brook side is angled out to create more shoulder room.

This final section of Connect2 has brought the villages of Birstall, Thurmaston, Syston and Cossingtion together with traffic free (apart from a small section of Meadow Lane) green routes, which if Saturday was any indication are being well received and used by walkers, cyclist and mobility scooters alike.