OREANDA-NEWS. March 17, 2016. To ensure residents are kept up-to-date on the latest plans, the project team is holding a drop-in event between 4pm and 7.30pm on Monday 21 March at Sulhamstead village hall, where information will be available about the construction process and the plans the team has in place to minimise disruption for the local community.

The building of a bridge will completely separate road and rail traffic at this site, which has experienced several incidents of deliberate misuse following a collision between a train and a car on the crossing in 2004 in which seven people died and 71 people were injured.

The start of the construction follows the preparatory work that was carried out last year, including moving the location of the memorial garden from the south to the north side of the crossing to make it more accessible once the new bridge has opened.

Daniel Collins, Network Rail’s scheme sponsor for the project, said: “Beginning the construction of this bridge means we are a step closer to our goal of improving the safety of passengers and the wider public at Ufton Nervet.

“Throughout the development of our plans we have been keen to minimise disruption for residents as much as possible and are holding this drop-in event to keep them up-to-date on the stages of the construction process.

“Everyone is welcome at the drop-in and I’d urge anyone who wants to know more about the work, or has a question they’d like answered, to come along.”

Construction of the bridge will take approximately a year. During this time a dedicated community liaison officer from the construction team will be available to answer residents’ enquiries and keep them updated on the bridge’s progress. Residents can contact the community liaison officer by calling 03457 114141.