AFTER months of delays, a key road through the New Forest has finally reopened to the relief of motorists and businesses.
The C10 Station Road reopened as scheduled on Friday afternoon (July 8), marking the end of the major A35 Holmsley Rail Bridge replacement project after nearly one year of disruption.
At a cost of around £5.5 million to Hampshire County Council, the scheme has seen the demolition and replacement of the 114-year-old bridge on the A35 that runs over the C10 – which itself was re-surfaced earlier in the week.
As reported, C10 Station Road was due to reopen in mid-April but this was delayed due to the presence of recently hatched chicks nesting beneath a bridge support. After the birds flew the nest and following advice from an ecologist, contractors removed it on June 23 and pushed on to complete the outstanding work.
The completion of work was perhaps welcomed most of all by those at the Old Station Tea Rooms, located a stone’s throw away from the bridge, having seen business suffer as a result of the lack of travel through the route.
Tea Rooms employee Catherine told the Echo she and her colleague were “almost crying with joy” when the road reopened at 3.30pm on Friday.
She said: “We were waiting all day and as soon as it reopened we were so happy. We were almost crying and jumping with joy.
“We found ourselves clapping every single car that passed through because it’s been so long since they were able to. It’s great news for everyone.”
Councillor Edward Heron, lead member for transport and environment strategy, previously said: “It has been a highly complex project to replace this 114-year-old rail bridge and I extend my thanks to our engineering team and our contractors Knights Brown for completing this scheme before the start of the busy tourist season.
“The new single span concrete bridge will minimise future maintenance costs and a 380-metre section of the A35 carriageway has been realigned and resurfaced with improved surface water drainage.
“This will ensure safer travel on this key route through the New Forest.”
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