|
Written 08/03/05
As has been reported here many times over the years the Haling Way, the river towpath to Cambridge is to be re-surfaced. This is finally about to happen and our recently retired parish councillor Ian Cowley posted the details on the Usenet newsgroup cam.misc today and they're reproduced verbatim below.
Received this from Pete Convey (of CUCBC fame) about the towpath works. I
guess he's paraphrasing what he was told, and I'm just the messenger, so
please don't shoot me. Just thought it'd be of interest to some.
- The intention now is for the surface to be a self binding graded
golden / brown natural stone, it will not have a bituminous or cementitious
binder. This is on cost grounds. The existing construction will be used as
far as possible and be mixed with the imported stone. The path will be 2m
wide with a timber edging both sides to retain the edges. It will be raised
as necessary above adjacent ground, or the ground will be graded away, with
a cross fall so there are no dips where water can lie which is one of the
main problems at present. Given that water will drain off the County Council
engineers are confident that the surface will be hard wearing. The ground
will be filled / graded immediately behind the edgings with soil and be
seeded. The County will be responsible for subsequent maintenance.
- A trial section will be constructed sometime this week near the Penny
Ferry end for inspection and approval.
- It is now intended that work will commence on 14 March with an
anticipated 7 week construction period for the Chesterton to Baits Bite
length.
- The towpath will NOT be completely closed - they have realised it
takes four weeks to get a closure order! Work will be on a rolling 25m - 30m length which will be finished completely at the end of each day. This
working section will be barriered at each end. Public and cyclists
(dismounted) will then be escorted around / through the works as
appropriate. The barriers will be manned each end to prevent somebody trying
to dash through. I will be interested to see how the escort system will
work, but can only ask for full cooperation!
- During the first week this rolling section will commence at the
railway bridge and work back towards the Pike and Eel . For the next three
weeks two such sections will be in daily operation between the railway
bridge and grassy, and then similarly between grassy and the lock for the
remaining three weeks.
- All material will be brought alongside the works using barges which
will be loaded at the parking area by the Pike and Eel. The barges will be
moored along the towpath overnight and will be lit. This should not prove a
major obstruction while work takes place above Ditton, but will necessitate
care in steering, and more so when they move to the lower part of the river.
- Plant to be used on site will be two large excavators plus rollers
etc.
- It is still hoped to then continue from Baits Bite to Clayhithe but
this will be dependent upon the size of pot remaining after the
above.Specification and working method has not yet been decided.
- The Conservancy will shortly have tree surgeons pollarding 61 willows
along the Chesterton to Baitsbite length, provisionally commencing this
week, with the intention that they should complete their work in any
particular section before Balfour's are due to work there. So please note
there will be disruption to towpath traffic caused by these works also.
|
|
