Agar Grove bridge replacement Christmas 2024
We are replacing Agar Grove bridge to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the bridge.
Nine day closure affecting trains – Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December
Significant engineering work this December means journeys on the Midland Main Line between St Pancras and Bedford will take longer and involve road transport between Saturday 21 and Sunday 29 December.
For the latest travel information and to check your journey, please visit National Rail Enquiries.
You can find out more information below or check before you travel at East Midlands Railway or Thameslink Railway.
Bridge replacement – Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December
Between Friday 20 and Sunday 29 December we will be replacing Agar Grove bridge deck. This work is essential not only for the safety of those who use the road above but also for the rail users and workers below. Without the work there is a risk of imposing weight restrictions or even closures.
We need nine days access where no trains can run beneath the structure to reconstruct the bridge deck. To do this work any other way would mean much more disruption to trains and the community as well as costing a lot more.
Other work this festive period
Because no trains are running, we’re using the opportunity to make progress on other projects to help improve our railway:
- Our Overhead Line upgrade (known as OLE 125) is being carried out to allow electric trains to travel faster between St Pancras and Bedford. It began in Sept 2023 and is expected to be complete in Summer 2025. Once complete all electric trains will be able to travel through the area (currently 100mph).
- Further north, we are supporting work which will allow Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) to be built. During 20 – 29 December they will install a rail bridge underneath the Midland Main Line to enable future freight access. We’ll also have hundreds of people out carrying out minor work and maintenance to keep the railway safe and reliable.
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How will this work affect me?
Between Saturday 21 and Sunday 29 December, there will be no East Midlands Railway (EMR) services between London St Pancras and Bedford. Thameslink train services will not run between London St Pancras and Harpenden.
East Midlands Railway (EMR) passengers
No trains will run between London St Pancras and Bedford. Passengers travelling north from London St Pancras will need to take a train from London Euston to Milton Keynes. Rail replacement buses will run between Milton Keynes and Bedford where passengers can join EMR services to Corby, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Thameslink passengers
No trains will run between London St Pancras and Harpenden.
Rail replacement buses will be in operation between:
- Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
- Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
- London St Pancras and Harpenden
A shuttle train service will run between Harpenden and Bedford.
Additionally, between Friday 27 – Sunday 29 December, there will be no Thameslink trains between London St Pancras and London Bridge.
Extra staff will be on hand at stations to help you find your way around.
Stations and road transport are expected to be very busy and your journey will take longer than usual.
Please plan ahead and check your full journey – including connections – if you are travelling during the festive period. Please allow extra time for your journey.
Check before you travel
Please visit, East Midlands Railway, Thameslink Railway or National Rail to plan your journey.
Why is the work needed?
Agar Grove bridge, built in the 1800s is deteriorating due to its age, it’s crucial that we carry out planned strengthening and replacement work. This work is essential not only for the safety of those who use the road above but also for the rail users and workers below.
This work is necessary to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the bridge, without the work there is a risk of imposing weight restrictions or even closures.
Project timeline
Work has begun and will be complete in spring 2025.
What work is taking place?
In order to carry out our bridge replacement work this Christmas, it’s essential that we deliver diversion work required by Thames Water. Unfortunately this work is more disruptive than was anticipated and so the partial road closures needed for the work are starting earlier than originally planned.
Road closure – Sunday 15 September until May 2025
From Sunday 15 September until May 2025, Murray Street and St. Augustine’s Road will be closed to traffic at the junction of Agar Grove. We will be working at various locations within the road closure and a variety of activities will be undertaken for the duration of the closure.
- Agar Grove will remain open with traffic reduced to one lane until Sunday 10 November 2024 except for overnight shifts from Monday 7 October to Saturday 26 October 2024 when the road will be fully closed from 20:00 until 05:00. The 274 bus will be affected as bus stops ZF and ZA will be closed temporarily. For further information please visit the TfL website.
- The cycle ramp leading from Agar Grove to Camley Street will remain open, but the entrance will be via Wrotham Road
The map below shows a detailed layout of pedestrian walkways, vehicle parking, and construction areas around Murray Street, Agar Grove, and St Augustine’s Road. Key features include:
- Pedestrian walkways marked with red dashed lines.
- Construction or working areas highlighted in blue along the roads.
- Standard and disabled parking bays on Murray Street and Agar Grove.
- Cycle ramps are marked near the bottom left of the map.
- A bike shed is located near the top left corner.
Overview of work
October to December 2024
Piling
We have made good progress in relocating services from the existing bridge to the temporary footbridge, where they will remain until the new bridge is in place. We are now preparing the road for the installation of the cranes before the main bridge refurbishment in December and have completed further ground investigation surveys following the diversion of the existing services. Unfortunately, these additional investigations have uncovered issues with the ground conditions, meaning we will need to install piles to strengthen the road surface to support the cranes.
The piles are auger bored reinforced concrete piles and are identical to the piles installed for the temporary footbridge, which BAM installed earlier this year.
Work to install the piles will commence on Monday 11 November, and is expected to take up to five weeks. Due to this additional work the entire bridge will now close to traffic from Monday 11 November 2024. We expect to have one land reopened in early February once the bridge is reinstated.
All work is planned to take place during daytime hours (08:00 to 18:00) until the bridge replacement work starts on 20 December. Due to the additional piling work, it will be necessary to work 7 days per week from Saturday 16 November until the end of December 2024.
Agar Grove will remain open until Monday 11 November with traffic reduced to one lane except for overnight shifts from Monday 7 October to Saturday 26 October 2024 when the road will be fully closed from 20:00 until 05:00.
The temporary footbridge is planned to open at the beginning of November; however, it will need to close from 20 December to 30 December during the bridge replacement period.
Tree removal
Due to essential changes to the crane operations we need to remove two additional trees on Agar Grove.
The trees are located outside number 27 and 90 Agar Grove and will be removed in November following the full closure of the bridge during a weekday shift (08:00 to 18:00).
The map below highlights road closures and lane access in the Murray Street and Agar Grove area, between 15 September and 10 November 2024.
The junction between Murray Street and Agar Grove is marked as part of the closed area.
An orange arrow points to one lane remaining open on Agar Grove, indicating that traffic will still flow in one direction despite the closures.
November – December 2024
The road closures to be implemented for the Thames Water works commencing on 15 September 2024 will run through until November 2024. This will be followed by a bigger road closure when the following Christmas preparation works are planned.
The images below show the road closure information.
11 November to 15 December 2024
This map highlights road closures in the Murray Street, Agar Grove and St Augustine’s Road area, between 11 November and 15 December 2024 when the entire bridge will be closed to traffic.
The junction between Murray Street and Agar Grove is marked as part of the closed area.
Temporary foundations for the crawler crane to be located on Agar Grove will be installed between 11 November and 13 December 2024.
16 December to 30 December 2024
This map highlights road closures in the Murray Street, Agar Grove and St Augustine’s Road area between 16 and 30 December 2024.
The junction between Murray Street and Agar Grove is marked as part of the closed area.
St Augustine’s Road will be closed to traffic between the bridge and Cantelowes Road from 16 December 2024.
The map also shows the parking suspension areas.
30 December 2024 to 6 January 2025
This map highlights road closures in the Murray Street and Agar Grove between 30 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.
The junction between Murray Street and Agar Grove is marked as part of the closed area.
St Augustine’s Road will re-open between the bridge and Cantelowes Road immediately after main works on 30 December 2024.
January – May 2025.
Key dates of work due to take place from January 2025:
- Entire bridge will remain closed until early February 2025, when one lane of traffic on Agar Grove will be opened.
- Southern Footway on Agar Grove to re-open in early March 2025.
- Temporary Footbridge removed during weekend of 8/9 March 2025 with full road closure on Agar Grove for entire weekend.
- Remainder of the Bridge to re-open in May 2025.
Sign up for email updates
To stay up to date on this project, please sign up for our regular email updates.
Further information for residents
For further details on work in the area, please view our document library:
Contact us
If you have any additional questions or concerns, visit our contact us page or telephone our 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.