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

LOCATION Map 7   INFORMATION 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'.

Extending the canal to the crossing To provide a fitting setting for the official opening of the new canal bridge, the existing winding hole at the southern end of the navigable Loxwood section was extended to the heavy plant crossing.     After contractor Richard Julian had built up the banks with clay, the retaining wall was removed and the 70-yard extension began to fill with water from the canal.     The heavy plant crossing, which was required to allow access to the river authority's Gauging Station on the other side of the River Lox, had just been completed. The tipping lorry was used to cart away the spoil and surplus clay.     And this was the scene on 14th September 2001, just six days from the official opening of the new bridge.     The concrete decking planks of the crossing will normally be stored on the canal bank.     Four of the Trust's volunteers who were present at the opening of the new bridge. From left to right -     Dusty Miller - Chairman of W & A Enterprises Ltd Eric Walker - WACT Engineering Manager Gary Hogsden - Editor 'Wey-South' Dr Jonathan Heatley.

'All' that now remains to do is to raise the money required to fund the construction of the aqueduct! And work is actively in hand to achieve this at the earliest opportunity. [photos: John Wood] BACK

Last updated October 2001