The ground level is about where the water level will be i.e. 1.5m to the bed of the canal eventually. The piles on the left are the bridge wing wall and will only have a cap on them. the lower piles will have a cap on them and then either an in situ cast roof (soffit) or as it gets towards the road the pre-cast beams At this stage the Water (in blue) and BT (grey) are suspended from the I-beam. Rain overnight left the ground sticky. Some concrete is now being put in as blinding. Feb. 26, 2008
(Photo: Peter Savage)

A view from the other side of the works. One curiosity,in a position some distance from the original bridge is evidence of a brick wall. We know it is original because there are no frogs in the bricks and there is lime mortar. Any ideas what it may be?
(Photo: Peter Savage)

The excavations on Saturday, Feb 23, 2008. Note the end of the retaining wall on the right which was built in 2006.
(Photo: Richard Crook)

A view from the temporary footbridge looking east. Sat. Feb23, 2008.
(Photo: Richard Crook)

The work site viewed from the front of River Cottage looking north. Note how the line of the road has been moved to the left. The temporary footbridge is centre right in the picture. Feb23, 2008
(Photo: Richard Crook)

The piles to the right have now been cut down to the required level for the sloping wing walls. Further towards the road the piles have been cut down lower (the concrete so far, the steel will also have to be reduced) so that the capping beam, the pre stressed beams and the road construction can go on the top.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

The piles being shortened by a pneumatic drill mounted on a mini digger.
(Photo: Janet Phillips)

The piles were made to ground level and now have to be shortened to follow the profile of the new retaining walls.
(Photo: Janet Phillips)

The tops of the piles have been exposed and the concrete at the top broken away.
(Photo: Jim Phillips)

A panoramic view showing the excavations alongside the two rows of piles.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

The tops of the piles have been exposed and the concrete at the top broken away.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

Another view showing the exposed tops of the piles. The traffic has been re-routed to the west of the original road.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

Piling was completed on Jan 30, 2008. Piling equipment will be taken off site on Jan 31.

Burras arrived on site on the 3 Jan and started drilling on the 8 Jan.

The road was closed for five days only and then traffic controls for single line working were introduced. There were 142 piles to drill and by end of 22 Jan a total of 77 had been done.

This week the work is concentrating on the west side of the road. Next week should see the drilling rig on the east side of the road.,
The plan is to divert the traffic to the west of the road when the piling is finished and excavate between the piles. When the workers are in the trench formed by the excavation, they are at risk from vehicles over 7.5T passing close by. Action is being taken to restrict vehicles over 7.5T from using the road,

Setting out the piles on the west of the road. Jan 25, 2008
(Photo: Eric Walker)

It is a very small site for so much machinery, further complicated by the passage of traffic through the work.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

Setting out the piles on the west of the road. Details of the piling operation here.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

The Pulborough stone abutments of the 1813 bridge have been found and the drill simply went through them.
(Photo: Eric Walker)

The road closed and the boring rig in place.
(Photo: Janet Phillips)

WACT's Project Manager, Eric Walker, clearly delighted that bridge construction has finally started.

The auger lined up to bore the first 450mm diameter hole (through the road and way below) for the concrete piles. Photo taken on Jan 8, 2008.

Assembling the reinforcing cage for the concrete piles.

Ready mixed concrete is transfered into a mixer drum on the skid, ready for the concrete pump to deliver it through the flexible hose to fill the holes drilled for the piles

The reinforcement cage being lowered into the concrete filled hole- lowering the steel simply displaces wet concrete from the hole. There will be two rows of piles running diagonally across the road, each row forming a bridge abutment.

Spoil from the bores being collected and removed.

Some locals are enjoying the peace resulting from the road being closed. Here Mr Clifton, the Loxwood cabinet maker, is shown working in the street.

Viewed looking north, the road is being cleaned prior to re-opening to traffic.

Looking south, photographed on Jan 11, 2008 mid afternoon. The road was re-opened to traffic at 5pm on Friday, Jan 11, 2008. Piling remains to be done to the west of the B2133. During the bridge construction the road will be traffic light controlled alternate single lane working.