ROADWORKS are being arranged in Alcester to remove the old railway bridge unearthed as part of a housing development by Bloor Homes.
After the bridge was discovered in July, opposite The Roebuck on Birmingham Road, further investigation works have taken place regarding the remains of the previously buried railway bridge.
Now it has been deemed unsafe by Warwickshire County Council and Bloor Homes following meetings between all parties, a decision has been made to remove it.
The work is scheduled to take place within three to four weeks.
The bridge, says Redditch railway expert Philip Jarvis, was part of a branch line that connected Alcester with Great Alne, Aston Cantlow on to Brearley and Hatton from there on to Stratford on Avon and the main line.
And astonishingly its rails are said to lie at the bottom of the English Channel – after a ship transporting them to help with the war effort in the First World War was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat.
“Construction began back in 1874,” said Philip, “and it was officially opened in 1883 with the line closing in 1960.”
Prior to the removal, an archaeological survey by Warwickshire County Council’s specialist team has been undertaken and there will be a full photo record of the demolition by the principal contractor.
All information and reports will be supplied to Warwickshire County Council and made available to the public on request.
On completion of the removal of the buried structure, the embankment will be regraded, and a new fence line installed on the highway boundary.
