Work to clean, repair and repaint the Luton Arches in Chatham will take three weeks longer than initially anticipated, Future Chatham has been told. Network Rail began a £652,000 refurbishment of the well-known railway bridge in January this year, which was due to be completed today (21 March). However, a Network Rail source has confirmed that "emergent steel repairs" are needed following the discovery of "areas of concern" in the 1858-built metal underbridge of the structure while work has progressed. It is now hoped that the Luton Arches refurbishment should finish on Sunday, 11 April instead. After a long life in service, Network Rail says the bridge needs a refurbishment to "make sure it can continue to carry trains and passengers for another 160 years", as well as to "maintain its place" as an "admired landmark" in Chatham.
The wider project involves high pressure water jet cleaning, masonry repairs, pigeon proofing, gutter repairs, installing new plates under the railway to improve the track quality and repainting the steelwork. The westbound side of Chatham Hill towards Rochester is narrowed down into a single lane for the duration of the refurbishment. Its full refurbishment comes after leaking, old metal guttering was replaced with new plastic pipes back in 2015, after which £96,000 worth of improvements were completed in late 2017 involving the installation of a canopy to protect pedestrians from pigeon droppings. Network Rail also joined forces with community group Arches Local and artist Lionel Stanhope last summer to create a unique art mural on the bare walls of the bridge. The refurbishment is being completed by contractor Dyer & Butler on behalf of Network Rail. Photos: Future Chatham Comments are closed.
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