Old Toll Bridge Shoreham-by-Sea

[squeaker]

Downslink to Ropetackle/A259/Adur Rec/Shoreham airport road is the realistic alternative (unless you fancy your chances on the A27) to this Adur river crossing.
Notice says closed for 21 days from 18 April due to large sink hole appearing (on the western bank approach?).

[squeaker]

Suspect closure as someone got hurt trying to avoid it so H&S involved

[Mightme]

[Phil Fouracre]

Silly question, but, how do you not see a hole that size??

[Postboxer]

Silly question - Why does it take 21 days to repair it. If it is just whilst they wait for someone to repair it, couldn't it just be more effectively cordoned off so people can still use the bridge?

[reohn2]

Silly question - Why does it take 21 days to repair it. If it is just whilst they wait for someone to repair it, couldn't it just be more effectively cordoned off so people can still use the bridge?

Possibly it may get bigger without warning so the powers that be don't want to take any chances.
21 days is a long time to assess and repair a hole though IMO

[squeaker]

21 days is a long time to assess and repair a hole though IMO

I suspect that it's the river bank collapsing and taking the first bit of the bridge with it that Highways are worried about... It is a wooden bridge, albeit one that used to carry the A27 (single file) in the '60s so rot is always a worry (well, I'd worry about it).

[whoof]

Silly question - Why does it take 21 days to repair it. If it is just whilst they wait for someone to repair it, couldn't it just be more effectively cordoned off so people can still use the bridge?

Because it's not used by motorised traffic.

This cycle/pedestrian bridge was damaged in September when someone tried to drive a lorry over it. It was closed and according to spokesman “Our priority is to reopen the bridge as soon as it is safe to do so, and in the meantime we ask all cyclists and pedestrians to cross using an alternative route.”

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... ers-494116


They took off the top layer in September and there hasn't been a thing done since.

Cyclists and pedestrians are being diverted via Valentines Bridge while essential repairs are made. BTW the Valentines bridge was built as a shared cycle/foot bridge. However, it was designed to look very modern and as such has a metal surface. It was then discovered that metal is slippery when wet and some cyclists have fallen off their bikes. The council have resolved this issue by putting up signs saying cyclists must dismount due to health and safety reasons and even employ two people to stand at the entrance during commuting times to tell cyclist to dismount.

[Mightme]

https://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/d ... -1-8468781

However the bridge will be open temporarily later today https://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/u ... -1-8469219

[squeaker]

However the bridge will be open temporarily later today https://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/u ... -1-8469219

Cheers! Hopefully WSCC will recognise its significance for non-motorised users and keep the route open throughout any works...

[squeaker]

Temporary passage: from Shoreham resident Les Robinson

The gap on the right hand / north side of the ramp seen on the photo (looking west) has since been covered by a sturdy plate.
The ramp consists of two parallel ladders with a hardboard fill over the rungs, all covered by vinyl and held by metal studs. It would not carry the weight of a horse, IMHO, hence the bridge (legally a bridleway) is closed to equestrians.
Width of the passageway is approx. 94cm.

[squeaker]

Mk2 ramp now in place giving 1.2m lateral clearance and 0.99m wide flat surface.

[Graham]

Is this bridge under threat from the Monks Farm development ??

I am trying to get a clear idea about what will be lost, for cyclists, by the the recent approval of this "IKEA & homes" development.

Thanks

[squeaker]

Is this bridge under threat from the Monks Farm development ??

I am trying to get a clear idea about what will be lost, for cyclists, by the the recent approval of this "IKEA & homes" development.

No, that's not directly affected.

What's lost to NMU's is a single stage, traffic light controlled crossing of the A27 linking Coombes Road to Old Shoreham Road (which crosses the toll bridge). The connection of Old Shoreham Road with the A27 is lost, and the Coombes Road becomes a left in / left out only junction with the A27. You should be able to make out the detail in the top right of the attached file or the expanded version.

In place of this easy to use crossing, NMUs are offered a 4 stage light controlled (timings not specified ) crossing at the big new roundabout some 400m to the west, or a 300m diversion via a yet to be specified / approved footpath to bridleway conversion of minimum 2.5m width with a flood wall on one side and the river Adur on the other (The developers, WSCC Highways and Highways England claim this meets relevant standards )

HTH

PS: IMO, the planning was only granted because the developers reached an agreement with Lancing College to pay for an additional link from the Coombes Road into the proposed A27 roundabout - shown on the file headed 'Transport'. (Did I say 'bought off' ) The snag being that the land used for this new bit of road is in the South Downs National Park, who remain opposed to the IKEA (bad IDEA) store.

[Graham]

Thanks for the clarification.

I can see that footpath along the Adur being a possible IF it were given a properly engineered foundation and a decent machine-layed tarmac surface.

EDIT plus a new tarmac route on the north side of the A27 to get from the Adur over to the south end of the bridleway near the hotel . . . .

. . .and given the powers-that-be exhort us to "get-on-our-bikes" and "get off our lazy 'arrises" . . . etc. , etc. that can surely be justified . . . by economic cost AND more importantly all the intangible, quality-of-life (non-)measures.