Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, near Yate and Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire.


The Nature Reserve is run by the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, a small group of volunteers.

Monday, December 29, 2014

First stage of the new Wapley bridge

The support beams for the new bridge were put into place the night before last, so you can now see the increased clearance that will be needed for the overhead electric cables.

The new support beams rest on the century-old supporting piers

Trains are running regularly under the partly constructed bridge

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Wapley bridge the morning after the night before

Work on the Wapley bridge came to a halt last night due to the wind and rain - it would have been unsafe to lift the new bridge sections in. We don't yet know the new timing for this but we're guessing next week, maybe New Year's Eve / New Year's Day.

Update 28 December - they've lifted the new bridge beams in! Picture to follow.


A train thunders past the gap and the crane. Parts of the new bridge are on the lorry on the right.



The gap, with the left-hand support being built up with concrete to the new height.


The support beams for the new bridge waiting on the lorry.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Wapley bridge up, up and away...

The old bridge across the railway from Shire Way to Wapley Common (Sergeant's Farm Bridge) was craned out this morning (Boxing Day) in a spectacular operation by Network Rail's contractors Murphy and crane operators James Jack.

The 1900s structure was stubborn to the last - it took a man with a sladgehammer to free it from its masonry supports.






Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Wapley bridge - Network rail promised a big crane...

... and they weren't joking! The Big Lift should start around 8.30 or 9.00 am on Boxing Day morning.




Sunday, December 07, 2014

Work on temporary Wapley footbridge going well


They've erected the two stairways and they are just putting the support for the walkway across today (Sunday 7 Dec). Presumably they'll need some more time without any trains passing to finish the walkway off.