Remedial work to start on River Severn towpath in Shrewsbury

Work is scheduled to start on Monday 24 September 2012 to repair the riverside wall which retains the River Severn towpath between the English Bridge and St Mary’s Water Lane in Shrewsbury. 

The wall in question is of concrete block construction, and a recent inspection has revealed that, in places, some blocks have been removed by floodwater.  The proposed work will involve infilling these cavities and generally repointing the wall. 

The work, which is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, will be carried out by a diving contractor working from a boat on the river. 

When the work is underway, the riverside towpath will remain open as normal. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for bridge maintenance, said: 

‘‘This is essential work which needs to be carried out to prevent the wall from being damaged further by future flooding, and the method of working has been chosen to enable the towpath to remain open when the work is in progress.” 

In addition to this work, the council’s term contract consultant, Mouchel, is currently designing a new riverside wall to replace the length which collapsed in May 2012 at Water Lane near the Welsh Bridge.  That wall is scheduled to be built in summer 2013.