Llanymynech Station Bridge to have a weight limit

Llanymynech Station Bridge, which carries the B4398 Knockin to Llanymynech road over a disused railway line on the outskirts of Llanymynech, is to have a mandatory 7.5 tonne weight limit from Tuesday 20 December 2011. 

The weight limit is necessary to ensure that the bridge, which has been assessed as being weak, can continue to remain open safely. 

The proposed weight limit is intended as a temporary measure until the bridge can be strengthened. 

Shropshire Council, as the highway authority, is currently liaising with the bridge’s owner, BRB Residuary Ltd, to develop a strengthening scheme which it is hoped can be built during the 2012/13 financial year.  However, at present it is too early to confirm for definite that this will be possible. 

When the weight limit is in place, heavy vehicles will be diverted along the A483 and B4396 roads via Llynclys and Knockin. 

To prevent through traffic from using the unsuitably narrow but nearby Plas Cerrig Lane instead of following the signed diversion route, an environmental 7.5 tonne weight limit will also apply to Plas Cerrig Lane from Tuesday 20 December 2011.  Although this will prohibit through traffic from using the lane, it will have exemptions to permit heavy vehicles to access those properties situated along the lane as normal. 

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said:

“It is appreciated that the proposed weight limit will cause inconvenience and we will do all that is reasonable to keep the period that it is in place to a minimum.  However, I hope that people can understand that it is necessary to ensure that the bridge can continue to remain open safely in the short term.” 

Arthur Walpole, Shropshire Councillor for Llanymynech, said:

“I was able to visit the bridge some weeks ago and was shown the very clear deterioration that has taken place with the supporting structure.  I will be keeping in close contact with  council officers to ensure that we are rigorously pursuing the necessary remedial action.  I alerted the adjacent parish councils regarding the expected weight limitation and, whilst they were justifiably concerned, we all recognised that safety must be the paramount consideration.”