Broadmead Road update - Thursday, 11 April 2024

Broadmead Road Bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic to prevent potential loss of life or serious injury. The official diversionary route is via the A406 to either Chigwell Road or High Road, Woodford.

The bridge was constructed in 1937 and has now unfortunately come to the end of its life. The Council has written to the Secretary of State for Transport to request urgent funding to repair the bridge, at an estimated cost of over £25 million.

While we appeal for government support, work is ongoing. Structural engineers are writing up the Principal Inspection report from the inspections undertaken throughout the Autumn and Winter months for the Council to review and approve. Due to the time the structure was built it was a possibility that asbestos was present in the structure, the Council undertook an asbestos survey of the structure in March, and no asbestos was found.

The next survey will be the concrete testing that will determine the strength and level of deterioration of the bridge. It will also allow structural engineers to determine the current capacity the bridge can take and provide details for an options report to be put before the Council on what it can do to re-open the bridge.

Clearance works underneath the structure continue as the Council works with the owners of the containers to secure their move from under the structure.

We would like to apologise for the inconvenience the bridge closure is causing local users.