The Luton Arches railway bridge in Chatham is ready and waiting for a full refurbishment expected to span over three months from January 2020. Network Rail has confirmed that the project costing just over £650,000 will see the Luton Arches benefit from a long-awaited refurbishment, which will include the repainting of steelwork, installation of pigeon deterrent and netting, brickwork repairs and the replacement of defective gutters. The refurbishment is expected to start on-site from 8 January, 2020 and should be completed by 13 March, 2020 - although it may continue until the end of that month. Documents retrieved from Network Rail through a Freedom of Information request noted that while the traffic management plan is yet to be finalised with Medway Council, it is likely to include a series of single lane closures and full road closures to "allow necessary work on the middle section [of the bridge] to be carried out safely". Local residents and businesses will be notified in advance via letter, prior to work commencing on site. "This really is an amazing achievement helped by our community's constant positive dialogue with Network Rail and the support of many others..." The news of the Luton Arches refurbishment has been hugely welcomed by National Lottery-funded community group, Arches Local, hailing the announcement as an "amazing achievement" that has been supported by "constant positive dialogue with Network Rail and the support of many others" from the local community. Arches Local has led at least four years' worth of discussions with Network Rail centred around the deteriorating state of the Luton Arches bridge, having launched a petition at the end of 2015 that eventually voiced 200 residents' discontent over Network Rail's irresponsibility of what is essentially the most iconic gateway junction into the centre of urban Medway. While the community group is pleased to finally see - hopefully - longer-lasting measures against the issues of pigeon nuisance and the white muck on the brick walls from damaged gutters, it stresses that there is yet a lot more to do to further improve the Luton Arches, built in 1858, and reinvigorate the bridge as a focal point sat between Luton Road and Chatham High Street. "We have also had discussions [with Network Rail] around painting a mural on one of the walls under the structure," Arches Local said, adding: "we will consult with the wider community as to what it could incorporate." The group's long-term vision for the railway bridge, based on ideas from local residents, also includes bringing back the historic Driver Fountain - originally installed in front of the Luton Arches by three-times mayor of Chatham William Driver - as well as the installation of new featured structural lighting and the planting of poplar trees and wildflowers at the roundabout junction. The full refurbishment of the Luton Arches comes after Future Chatham encouraged Network Rail to replace leaking, old metal guttering with new plastic pipes back in 2015, after which £96,000 improvements were completed in late 2017 which included the installation of a canopy above the pavement to prevent the hazardous build-up of pigeon droppings.
Looking ahead, it is hoped that the latest major works will act as a catalyst for a better future for the Luton Arches gateway. "Fingers crossed we are closer to improving the look, feel and smell of that area," concludes Arches Local.
No
25/11/2019 13:29:33
Please don't. That roundabout is busy enough on weekdays. We have enough roadworks around medway we don't need more. Nobody cares about the roundabout as long as the traffic moves.
Chatham Chav
25/11/2019 16:04:11
Great idea, small inconvenience to traffic for long term benefits. Sooner the better.
Nickfreckle
25/11/2019 16:43:18
Do not plant in the middle of the roundabout. It's one of the few roundabouts in medway where you can see right over it and see what's coming around. We dont need another one where you cant see whats speeding around the other side of it.
JD
27/11/2019 07:35:29
I thought the same you dont want tees on a roundabout obstructing views
Me
25/11/2019 21:52:29
That roundabout is dangerous, there are accidents there every week, it will be worse if you can't see around the roundabout, how about putting in traffic lights? 28/11/2019 18:16:22
Traffic lights at roundabouts usually exacerbate the risk of collisions; it would be safer to keep the roundabout free-flowing rather than having yet another set of signals just a few metres away from those on Chatham Hill and Luton Road.
Frogbert
26/11/2019 19:21:10
STOP PUTTING USELESS OBSTRUCTIONS ON ROUNDABOUTS ITS SO DANGEROUS!
Hatemedwaywithapassion
28/11/2019 16:37:44
How bloody stupid, dont obstruct the roundabout some idiots come flying down the Chatham hill without noticing theres people exiting the roundabout to enter magpie hall road. 28/11/2019 18:14:34
The refurbishment of the bridge is being completed by a contractor on behalf of Network Rail. The second part of the article that refers to improvements at that junction is just ideas and visions at the moment; nothing is set in stone and it won't necessarily go ahead in its current form.
Hazel
7/12/2019 10:57:26
Leave the roundabout clear. Its safer than having trees the roundabout is far too small and busy for foliage. 8/12/2019 20:21:57
Great news, the arches are a fantastic feat of engineering, all improvements are welcome to help kick start the ongoing regeneration of the area. Comments are closed.
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