Petersfield Road Bridge
Petersfield Road Bridge was constructed around 1903 as part of the newly established Meon Valley line. The cross-country railway ran for 22 miles between Alton and Fareham.
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Location: Petersfield, Hampshire
Status: Work is due to begin on Monday 1 September and will continue until Sunday 12 October 2025.
History
The line was authorised in Parliament in 1897 and opened in June 1903. The line had proved difficult to build due to the general ground conditions. The geology of the area is chalk making concreting the line very challenging. The line ran through a sparsely populated area therefore was never busy with passengers. The bulk of the traffic came from shipping agricultural produce.
During the First World War, the Meon Valley Line was used for troop trains carrying soldiers who were bound for the docks ready to sail to France. It served the same use again in WW2 where the line had a spell of intensive use in the build-up to D-Day, transporting both men and equipment – including tanks.
Post-war, due to the rise of private car ownership and shift of goods from rail to road, services on the Meon Valley line were gradually reduced, with the line closing to passenger traffic in February 1955. A goods service was maintained until August 1968 when the line was permanently closed.
About the structure
The Petersfield Road Bridge is a single-span masonry arch bridge. It crosses a two-lane single carriageway road.
The bridge has a square span of approximately 9m between abutments. The arch is formed of a five-ring red-brick arch atop abutments approximately 3m tall. The bridge Is approximately 50m long.
What is the project?
There is currently significant spalling within the arch, in particular to the abutment faces. There is also significant joint loss in some areas. The issues will continue to get worse due to traffic using the A272 below.
The works to be carried out will address the worst areas of degradation throughout the arch. In the meantime, there is no safety concern related to the capacity of the bridge.
What stage is it at?
Work on the structure is due to begin on Monday 1 September and will continue until Sunday 12 October 2025. A road closure will be in place while these works are carried out so drivers are reminded to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.
Diversion
Signed diversions will be in place in the area for drivers. HGVs and larger vehicles are advised to avoid using smaller roads and use the official signed diversion route. This route is via the A272, A3, A325, A31 and A32.
