East / West Rail – Updates - Launton Parish Council

There has been good progress on constructing the ‘A1 to A2’ Haul Road and the A1 site compound. The archaeological strip map and sampling (the big trenches you might have seen) has taken 3 weeks longer than anticipated because of weather conditions and not much has been found apart from indications of field boundaries. Once the archaeological works have been completed, the area will be fully stone capped. The cabins for the compound are going in at the end of the month.

The traffic management outside the compound was scheduled to remain for another three weeks. Following reconsideration by EWR and the Highways team, it has been agreed that the traffic lights proposed originally would not be required beyond the usual ones on the bridge. Instead a high friction surface will be laid outside the compound. The team was currently deciding the best time to carry out the work but it was likely to be week beginning 20 July, so by the time you read this, it should be completed. However, we do apologise that notice for this work didn’t get into last month’s Launton Lines – we were told about it after the July edition went to print.

Further strip map and sample work is taking place off Charbridge Lane before the new access is constructed. Interestingly, in Mill Meadow opposite Langford Brook, some evidence of post Roman habitation was found.

The trees in the allotment which had not been removed in March / April will probably be taken down in October.

Unfortunately, the June Station Road closure did not run as smoothly as hoped as there were some trees which it was thought could have bats in so these couldn’t be removed; these will be taken down later in the year.

An electronic ‘fly through’ of the road over the railway to the north of Station Road was also given. A static picture of this is available on the Parish Council website.

The Public Rights of Way were also presented, and these are also available on the website on the ‘Why have the footpaths been closed?’ section.

The location of footpaths is still a matter for discussion and the OCC team will be liaising with the EWR team and others shortly.

Great Crested Newt fencing has been erected on the Folly Cottage side of Station Road. The pond will be back-filled in November once the newts have been removed.

The ecologists will be doing a newt search during July around Grange Farm, then from 27 July there will be more strip map and sampling. The heavy equipment to dig the sampling trenches will be brought in along the haul road, and a minibus will be used to reduce staff movements, but this may use the main road.

Towards the end of August, the excavation work for the footprint for the bridge embankment near the old level crossing will start, in some areas this will be up to three metres deep. The piling will start in early 2021.

The vegetation which wasn’t removed on Station Road in June will be removed in September and a water course will be realigned.

The Haul Road will cross Station Road at the Level Crossing. At first there will be ‘stop / go’ boards and then from 3 August, traffic lights will be installed to control the crossing. However, the highway will have priority with the traffic from the haul road having to wait for the lights to change.

Advanced warning was given that Station Road will close from April 2021 for at least 12 months. However, following the previous Station Road closure EWR will be looking at refining the look and placement of the signage.