Have you seen the new footbridge at the level crossing by Sutherlands Way in Chandler’s Ford yet?
You can’t use it just yet, but it looks like this:
(Update 24 Jan 2017: you can now walk on the bridge: New Footbridge: Chandler’s Ford to Valley Park)
This afternoon my family went for a walk to explore this bridge. From Valley Park, the view is like this:
For the past few months Sutherlands Way was closed for this bridge to be built (Notice of temporary closure of Sutherlands Way: construction and installation of Railway Footbridge).
Now the road has reopened. The footbridge looks impressive. My son noticed that there are lights on the bridge.
But do you remember what the footpath used to look like? I took these photos two years ago:
I used to walk on this old footpath very often. When my son was small, we even had to carry his pushchair, or his bike over the footpath. It was a bit awkward and involved some tricky manoeuvres but we all seemed to manage, and learn the great lesson of ‘Stop, Look, Listen’ and ‘Beware of trains’.
According to Alex Boatfield, of Network Rail’s assistant commercial scheme sponsor, said last July, “Chandler’s Ford is a high risk level crossing that has witnessed three incidents of misuse in the last year alone, one of which involved two young girls, and there is evidence of deliberate misuse and user error. When you combine this with the sheer number of trains that pass through each day, as well as the speed at which they travel, it really makes us concerned for the safety of the pedestrians using the crossing.
“Of course, we recognise the importance of the link between Chandler’s Ford and Valley Park which is why we’re planning to ensure that a facility to cross the railway line remains at the site of the current crossing. We have developed proposals to replace the level crossing with a stepped footbridge, which has already been amended further to earlier feedback from residents. The new design now incorporates additional screening to ensure privacy for local residents as well as lighting to assist users in navigating the bridge and footpath safely.
So THAT’S what they were doing. I wondered why the road had been closed for so long!
Now you know! 🙂 Glad the mystery is now solved. I’ve heard the bridge will be open in March. For the past months, the redirection was not quite easy to follow.
Saw the new footbridge when using the station on Saturday. Looks good and I think it is a great idea. My son and I once saw children deliberately play “chicken” with the trains once (we alerted the station guard, who warned them off in no uncertain terms!) and this footbridge will make that more difficult (hopefully impossible). Only downside is for anyone in a wheelchair or with a buggy, it is not going to help – unless they have allowed for this somewhere alongside what they’re building. Does anyone know?
True Allison. Wheelchair users won’ t be able to cross the bridge. As a society, we need to remove barriers to enable wheelchair / pushchair users to access resources, but we know they face so many barriers in their daily activities. Just look at how people park in Chandler’s Ford.
Imagine you’re a wheelchair user and you’re moving along the pavement, but suddenly you’re ‘stuck’ – because someone has decided it’s ok to park their car on the pavement. And, so many trees / bushes near the pavement were not trimmed. These are all barriers, and these are the barriers that are not that difficult to solve, if we care about others.
It is not clear when the bridge will be open as Network Rail have applied to HCC for a diversion order to allow the path to be diverted from the level crossing to the new bridge. Until this order is granted they are not allowed to open the new bridge. This could be this month I am not sure when it goes to committee at HCC.
It should have low level PIR lighting that only comes on when people are using the bridge. NR also promised seats at the top of the steps at each side to allow people to rest.
Because the line is on an embankment ramps to allow use in a “buggy” would have to be very long and NR do not own enough land alongside the track to allow for such a bridge, it would also bring the bridge close to the flats at Southdale Court.
Some people suggested a subway but as both ends would be in woodland and not overlooked it would cause some people using it to feel unsafe.
The other problem is that in order to get from the bridge to the footpath system in Valley Park you also have to cross the wooden footbridge over the Monks Brook which is not owned by NR so the new bridge is probably the best compromise. It does have a channel to allow bikes and sone push chairs to be pushed over it.
Alan,
Thank you for your feedback, and clarifications of aspects of the myths regarding the footbridge.
I’m rather hoping that this infrastructure investment is the first indication that services from Chandler’s Ford will be increased! (Ever hopeful!)
Would indeed make sense to have a pavement on that side of the road also.
The bridge is open now! Nice, quality work. Someone has already thrown up on it. Maybe part of the inauguration ceremony!