A Members’ Meeting was held at Awsworth Village Hall on 29th January. The chairman opened the meeting by explaining that it was called to give members a clear picture of the reasons for delays in the eastern ramp works and to outline the plans for remediation, re-design and completion. It was also an opportunity to share news about progress on the visitor centre and car park and the river Erewash bridge plan. At this point Peter Collins, Operations Director, presented a timeline of the viaduct’s history with a focus on the FoBV’s projects since 2015, the current situation and ways forward. Next, Spencer Davey of Davey Stone Associates, who acts as Project Manager, took questions from the floor.
The ramp was nearing completion in June 2024 when a crack appeared. At first the crack was thought by the contractors to be caused by settlement, which is relatively common and not necessarily serious. Work was suspended for a number of weeks to allow the settlement to run its course. The contractors then carried out repairs and continued building. In Autumn a second split appeared which was identified by geotechnical engineers as slippage of a body of material away from the rest of the earthwork. Slippage compromises the integrity and therefore the safety of a structure. FoBV, Broxtowe Borough Council and the contractors commissioned independent geotechnical consultants to carry out further investigations, identify the problem and design a solution.
The approximate timetable of these procedures is:
Geotechnical investigation 4 weeks
Laboratory analysis 2 weeks
Data assimilation 2 weeks
Design 4 weeks
Construction work 4 weeks
FoBV, Broxtowe Borough Council and Fox Owmby are working cooperatively to bring about a solution, and the consultancy costs are being shared by the council and the contractor, NOT BY FoBV!
The good progress continues on the visitor centre and car park. Spencer Davey told the meeting that he was happy with the work being carried out by Marlows and that the project was on schedule. The carpark will accommodate 24 vehicles and will have 2 EV charging points. The access will be via the entrance road off Shilo Way at Naphtha Kennels, and will continue past the car park to service the planned business starter units to be built by Broxtowe Borough Council as part of the Kimberley Means Business project.
Ron Yee who has designed the bridge, has submitted the planning application to Erewash Borough Council. Peter Collins is in discussions with Historic England; because the proposed bridge sits close to the viaduct it will need their approval. The design has been amended after feedback from volunteers with concerns about the roof which was originally proposed. The modified scale model is available to view in the Castledine House office. The bridge will be made of timber treated with fire retardant material. FoBV is working towards opening the bridge by the end of 2025, subject to planning permission and successful fundraising.
The hope is that the ramp and the visitor centre can be opened to the public in the summer. This will mean a triple celebration as the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct will be ten years old in June.
Original Post:
Exciting news! On Thursday 21st March construction on a new ramp at Bennerley Viaduct begins. This is the realisation of a dream we’ve held for a long time; a fully accessible connection over the river valley. Here’s what you need to know:
🔒 Closure Area: From March 21st, the steps side, the Nottinghamshire side of the viaduct will be temporarily closed. The pathways to the nature area underneath will be closed on the Nottingham side. Parking around the Naphtha Kennels lane will not be available as construction traffic will need access.
🚶 Access: You can still walk to the top of the viaduct from the Erewash canal side, but you’ll have to turn back the same way. The nature area below is open. The footbridge that was used for access over the River Erewash has been permanently closed, we will be fundraising for a new community bridge to replace the closed one and aim to install that in the Spring.
🗺️ Alternative Paths: Check out the map below for alternative footpaths we’ve marked for your convenience. These are public footpaths. There are other pathways around but some routes cross private land so please be respectful of our neighbours.
🍂 Future Plans: Once the ramp is built, the full circular walk will be open again! This is projected to be in November. After that, we will start building the Visitor Centre and car park. This won’t affect access to the top much, except for perhaps for short periods and we’ll communicate if that happens. This second phase will take about 16 weeks. We’re aiming to welcome you all to a finished site in the Spring. Do not worry, we will be sure to announce when we host a soft-launch event once the new ramp is open.
🙏 Thank You: We truly appreciate your patience during this exciting phase. After this construction, the viaduct will finally be accessible from all sides, a dream we’ve long hoped for.
📞 Get in Touch: If you need to report any issues, contact the construction company (emergency and non-emergency info will be posted on the safety fencing). For other concerns, please email the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct by social media or at info@bennerleyviaduct.org.uk. Your support helps us keep this place safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone.
🌟 Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey: We’re thrilled to have you on board for these incredible developments at Bennerley Viaduct! Stay tuned for more updates as the construction progresses!
The ramp, car park, and visitor centre Bennerley are part of a wider project investing £16.5 million to improve facilities and active travel networks around Kimberley, funded by the UK Government through the Levelling Up Fund and Broxtowe Borough Council.
