Beaver Bridges have been back on site!
Tuesday 14 July 2026 I met with Beaver Bridges Site Agent at Broom Lane to discuss the snagging works ahead of his colleagues attending later that day.
We discussed many options for how the work would be undertaken.
The preferred option was to have something called legatto blocks on the edge of the abutments walls, where the redundant span was. These are like concrete lego blocks!
However to install these safely you need a road closure! To get a road closure you need a notice and traffic management, which isn't cheap. I visited my contact at Highways in East Sussex, who agreed to provide the closure as his team would need to inspect the chevrons following the bridge strikes, this wasn't a problem we can all work in together.
Other members of the BB team arrived who explored other options, none of which were considered suitable. The legatto blocks had become an issue as there wasn't sufficient time to prepare the abutment walls prior to them being installed.
It was a very hot day and slight tensions began to build, I retreated to the car and turned the Air Conditioning up full. I made a call to Highways and used up all my goodwill in moving the road closure to another day.
The team return to the carpark and brief me on the options, I say the road closure can be moved, will that allow the legatto block to be installed, yes was the answer and the solution required.
Over the next few days (with a weekend in the middle) the team prepared the site and on the Tuesday installed the blocks using the lorry mounted hiab (Don't worry the lorry reversed, to avoid striking the bridge - that would've been embarassing!). Alan our Civil Engineering Manager was on site overseeing the works and was very pleased with the outcome.
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The P-Way Team arrive and chat with the BB Team, before agreeing a safe method of continuing on their journey - Thank you!
The completed works - We are very happy with the suitable edge restraint.
We could've used bricks which may have looked nicer, but would have taken longer to lay, which means a longer road closure and therefore more money.
There are still other smaller items which need completing around the site, some of which we always intended to do.
You maybe wondering where I was? - or not!
I was visiting Beaver Bridges in Shrewsbury to conclude the Compensation Event (a package of works not included in the original contract), the back of wall drainage and backfilling.
We had thought the value was too high and through email negotiations hadn't really made much progress. I was travelling for my holiday and decided to take a detour and stay overnight in Shrewsbury in order to resolve the issue in person.
I'm pleased to say that this was worth while and importantly appreciated by the wider Beaver Bridges Team. They know how far away it was.
I also took the opportunity to give Henry Beaver (Owner and CEO) his gift, which wasn't ready when he visited me. Henry had told me he would be in London, but during the meeting I saw his Land Rover return to the car park.
You probably don't know but Henry is a big Land Rover fan, his office desk is a replica bonnet (slightly smaller than real size), every car needs a number plate and every CEO needs a name plate on their desk. The answer was obvious a "fake" number plate with "HENRY" on it and in place of the dealership details "Beaver Bridges". This was a gift from me personally (not the Railway), as I truly appreciate the help that Henry has personally given to this project.
The photos below is me handing Henry his new number plate!
The Railway also gave Henry a branded mug, tie, and guide book. He was over the moon and thanked me very much.
When there is more to share, I will post again.
Additional Photos - taken after the update was drafted!
Best wishes
Mark D.
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