Weekend of traffic disruption looms as crossing is closed

The site will be completely closed to traffic from a minute past midnight on Friday, November 7, until 4am Sunday.

There will be no vehicle or pedestrian access during those 28 hours when the gates will be shut.

A disabled access minibus will be provided to transfer people around the closed level crossings. This is expected to take about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic.

The temporary road closure will be followed by temporary traffic lights in use on the crossing at various times on the Sunday.

Specialist engineers and technicians will be at the crossing over the weekend as part of the Barnham railway resignalling project for which Network Rail's latest cost is 22m.

The renewal of the existing worn out equipment means Network Rail needs to carry out complicated and sequenced electrical work to connect the level crossing to the new Barnham control centre, which will help increase train service reliability and performance.

One of Barnham's district councillors, who lives close to the crossing, said the short-term inconvenience would soon benefit everyone.

Cllr Melissa Briggs, of Hook Lane, said: "I understand why the crossing has to be closed and we have been given plenty of notice to make other arrangements for our journeys.

"Having to go to Colworth on a diversion is a bit of a nuisance but it is not a big problem for one weekend in a year. When the resignalling project is finished, we should benefit from having the crossing gates down for less time."

The length of time that the crossing gates remain closed while trains approach, blocking Bognor's main route with the Five Villages, has long been a source of frustration among villagers as well as those wanting to improve road links for Bognor.

Jerry Martin, Network Rail's programme manager, commented: "Works at Woodgate level crossing are vital in helping us deliver a range of improvements along the West Sussex route that will further increase service flexibility and performance.

"Given that this activity takes place on a weekday, we feel it is important to provide the local community and those living further a field with advance notice, so they can plan their journey accordingly.

"We are confident that, as the project is completed, passengers will notice and appreciate the benefits to their journeys."

The level crossing works form just one part in more than a week of intense activity by Network Rail to replace the signalling equipment around Barnham railway station. This will see all the signalling between Ford and Chichester brought into the 21st century.

The weekends of November 8/9 and 15/16 will see no trains calling at Barnham, Bognor or Ford. Replacement bus services will operate.

A much-reduced train service will operate between November 10 and 14 for Bognor.

Buses will connect the town with Barnham station every ten minutes to provide an alternative means of transport.

The resignalling work is the latest scheme of a comprehensive scheme which has seen the Barnham railway bridge widened to accommodate a third line and platforms one and two at Barnham lengthened to enable them to be used by longer trains. Two of the lines can also now be used by trains travelling at both directions to overcome potential bottlenecks if services are delayed.

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