£15Million revamp for Redbridge Causeway
Work could start in the summer
£15Million is going to be spent on a major revamp of two road bridges that link Southampton with the New Forest.
The Redbridge Causeway crossings over the River Test are used by 60,000 vehicles a day.
The money has been announced by the Transport Secretary today (30/01/21) and work could start in the summer.
Meanwhile Hampshire County Council has welcomed news that a bid for national funding for the vital repairs has been successful.
Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “Redbridge Causeway is a key link between the Port of Southampton and the western side of Southampton Water – an essential route not only for the local economy but also for import and export business affecting the whole of the country and the only direct route for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the River Test.
The Department of Transport has awarded funding of £13.4m for the third and final phase of repairs to the Redbridge Causeway, and the County Council will make up the remainder of the costs of this phase of £2.4m.
In total, around £25m worth of repairs will have been made to Redbridge Causeway once all the works are complete.
Councillor Humby continued: “This is fantastic news for the area’s economy and for our friends in the City of Southampton. I want to thank the Secretary of State for hearing our case and placing trust in the County Council to see this project through. It is also a signal of how important our local economy will be for the post-Covid recovery. I hope it is also a signal for our forthcoming partnership bid for a Freeport.”
The harsh marine environment has accelerated the deterioration of the concrete bridges which hold the A35, and repairs are essential to avoid weight restrictions and lane closures in the future.
The repairs will ensure that the A35 can continue to operate at full capacity to accommodate existing traffic and futured demands. In order to minimise disruption, the works have been split into three work packages:
• Phase 1 - Redbridge Viaduct expansion joint replacement and resurfacing – completed in 2018
• Phase 2 - Redbridge Road concrete repairs and Redbridge Viaduct repairs and cathodic protection (marine and land supports) – underway
• Phase 3 - Redbridge West bridge and Redbridge East bridge concrete repairs and cathodic protection, waterproofing and eastbound joints and surfacing. Redbridge Viaduct and Redbridge East bridge railway spans concrete repairs and cathodic protection.
Redbridge Viaduct is a 50 year old 270m long structure carrying westbound traffic out of Southampton over Test Lane, the railway and the River Test.
www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/a35essentialworks