Restoration - bridges Drungewick Lane Canal Bridge
- part of the Loxwood Link Extension Project

LOCATION Map 7   INFORMATION Road diversion signs were supplied by - Accord Southern Ltd Estimated cost of the bridge was approx 300,000 (UKP) plus a lot of volunteer labour.   THE NAME In the registry of West Sussex County Council bridges, of which there are over 600, 'Drungewick Lane Bridge' is the name of the bridge over the river. The title 'Drungewick Canal Bridge' was rejected because this is not the 'Drungewick Canal'. So the official name was chosen as 'Drungewick Lane Canal Bridge'.

Start of construction August 2000 and the prime contractors, Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, were on site.     To ensure correct alignment with the existing canal bed, the site of the new bridge had to be moved about 3 feet from the position on the site plan, and the new position marked on the ground with spray paint. [Arrow denotes canal bed towards Drungewick Lock]     Excavations revealed the contour of the land before the original bridge was built and showed how much the level had been built up.     The excavations also revealed the foundations of the original bridge. It was noteworthy that all the bricks had gone. Even between the abutments, not a brick remained after the arch had been removed shortly after 1905.

It was during this time that the Archaeologist from Chichester District Council paid the site two visits and was particularly interested in the remains of the aqueduct.     Having dug a massive hole the next stage was to fill the bottom with a hard aggregate to provide a firm base for the structure.     This was then levelled and consolidated.

THE BRIDGE This was the largest bridge which Sussex County Council had built since 1967, all other bridges having been constructed by the

With beautiful weather the sub base and the blinding (concrete up to 3" thick) was laid quickly, thus avoiding any embarrassment a flood may have caused.     The reinforcing for the whole structure consists of 160 tonnes of steel rods, up to 3 inches in diameter.     The Supervising Engineer (Halcrow Transportation and Infrastructure) in Chichester was there from the beginning to make sure the bridge is built to the specifications of West Sussex County Council.     With the vertical rods for the walls erected, it is now possible to visualise the eventual shape of the bridge. [Place mouse over picture to do so] [pictures: Dave Kersley]   NEXT - Taking shape BACK

Last updated May 2001