West
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For
a schematic of the site as at 15 March 2003 Click here to go to the site diary As part of our Project 2000 plan we have commenced restoration of Steppingstone Lane Bridge. The bridge was originally constructed in 1804/5 to carry the road from Shrivenham to Bourton. With the construction of Avenue Road, access to Bourton was improved and this route became less important and has been a simple track and bridleway for many years. In the late 1940's the bridge had become unsafe and was culverted and then collapsed onto the culvert. Planning permission to rebuild the bridge was obtained in March 2000 and two temporary coffer dams, one either side of the bridge, have been constructed. The first stage of restoration is temporarily to divert the bridleway across the western dam and then to rejoin the original line of the bridleway. We have cleared the new temporary route and made it safe by fencing and surfacing it. Permission to divert the bridleway has been obtained and route over the bridge closed to the public. We are now excavating the bridge site: early indications are that the bridge footings are still in situ and sound, with part of the arch still extant. Preparations began on 17 February 2001 with the moving of temporary storage to the site to house plant and materials. The day did not go completely to plan - in fact very little went to plan at all. Click here for the day in detail with pictures. Work had to stop during the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak. It recommenced in the Winter. The required bridleway diversion was completed in April 2002. Restoration of the bridge structure got under way in May 2002 with the excavation of the bridge remains. By May 2003 the entire site had been excavated and first impressions are that the foundations are reusable. At the end of May, Oxford County Council sent us copies of drawings they made in 1947 - just before the bridge was demolished.
Follow the diary below for regular updates. Access to view work in progress is easy - there are good views from the bridleway diversion and the nearby permissive footpath. The bridge can be found at grid reference SU235880. For an aerial photograph try GetMapping.com. The canal be seen curving towards the north west across the centre of the map. The bridge site is left of centre where a track crosses the canal. Please stay on the rights of way (as diverted) and do not trespass on surrounding land. The site is dangerous with unstable ground, deep water and deep excavations - for your own safety, please keep out. For
a schematic of the site as at 15 March 2003
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