Berry Hill Footbridge fiasco – nearly two years on!

Where is the footbridge?  Who pays for the replacement, how much will it cost and when will it happen?

Berry Hill Footbridge was part of the Thames Path over the Jubilee River and did cross the channel just downstream of Taplow Control Structure – but there was a problem and it has been removed.  Only 20 years old and this bridge cost £100,000 to remove!!

Extract from Bucks County Council Report – Date: 13th July 2022
Title: Rights of Way Group update.

Berry Hill Footbridge, Taplow Public Footpath TAP/12/1 – Capital Programme
The 37 metre mid-section of Berry Hill footbridge across the Jubilee River in Taplow
was removed in December 2021. The structure has been closed to the public since
May 2021 after suffering unforeseen structural deterioration. Work has been
ongoing to finalise the design and start the prefabrication of the replacement
section using the capital money allocated. The Council’s contractor is currently
seeking design/programme approvals from the Environment Agency (EA). Early
indications from the EA are that it is undertaking its own major works on the Jubilee
River this year, which may impact the timetable for replacing and reopening

https://buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s45617/6.%20Item%208%20ROW%20GROUP%20UPDATE.pdf

Berry Hill Footbridge removal – The Topbond Report

Topbond completed this scheme as part of the framework agreement with Transport for Buckinghamshire. Berry Hill footbridge was constructed to carry a footpath across a newly constructed flood relief channel which opened in 2002. The project objectives were to safely remove the central span of Berry Hill footbridge which had a span of 36.7m and estimated weight of around 35t. A lower chord had failed, and the bridge was closed to the public due to its dangerous condition. The bridge was monitored on a regular basis by Topbond and it was found that the structure was becoming progressively more unstable and as such needed to be removed as soon as possible to avoid the structure collapsing into the watercourse.​

Topbond collaborated with the client and Environment Agency, as the bridge was located over a flood relief channel there was an urgency to ensure works were completed before winter arrived thus increasing the likelihood of the flood relief channel becoming operational. It was established that a system was required that would allow for work to be safely suspended should high flow levels be predicted.

Topbond decided that the most appropriate method would be to use a pontoon system onto which   bespoke jacking towers and frame were installed. This design allowed the bridge to be supported over the majority of its span reducing the likelihood of the bridge failing during the jacking process. The temporary works system was fabricated within the Topbond Group and everything installed into the flood relief channel using a mobile crane from a bridge located approximately 200m upstream. When the bridge was jacked up it was then transported up the flood relief channel and cut into four sections before being lifted onto road transport & recycled off site.

https://www.topbond.co.uk/berry-hill

Which still leaves the unanswered questions – Who pays for the replacement, how much will it cost and when will it happen?

What about all the others – who actually ‘owns’ the bridges?

Note received from the EA (October 2023)

To confirm that the Environment Agency owns and maintains 4 bridges along the Jubilee – Amerden Bridge – West Town Farm Bridge – Manor Farm Bridleway Bridge – Wood Lane Bridge. We expect some remedial works on those bridges to be carried out in the next few weeks/months. The Local Authorities (Bucks and RBWM) are responsible for the for all the other bridges along the Jubilee.