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by Wimbledon Town & Dundonald Lib Dems on 19 July, 2024
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out essential repair works to both Alt Grove and Elm Grove footbridges. The work will take place between Saturday 7 September 2024 and Monday 3 March 2025.
We’re told that the works are “repairs, strengthening the bridges and repainting both structures to improve their reliability“.
Full details of the closure can be found on the table below:
| Structure | Date | Duration | Time – continuous shift pattern | Work to be carried out |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sat 07 Sep ’24 to Mon 09 Sep ’24 | 2 days | 24hrs working | Closed for scaffolding erection |
| Elm Grove | Sat 07 Sep ’24 to Sun 08 Sep ’24 | 2 days | 08:00-19:00 working | Vegetation cut back of overgrown ivy to boundary fence and footbridge staircase |
| Alt Grove | Mon 09 Sep ’24 to Wed 23 Oct ’24 | 44 days | 08:00-19:00 working* | Closed for bridge strengthening, repairs & painting within encapsulated scaffold *Night working may be required. |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Wed 23 Oct ’24 to Fri 01 Nov ’24 | 9 days | 24hrs working | Closed for bridge strengthening, repairs & painting within encapsulated scaffold |
| Elm Grove | Fri 01 Nov ’24 to Wed 15 Jan ’25 | 75 days | 08:00-19:00 working* | Closed for bridge strengthening, repairs & painting within encapsulated scaffold *Night working may be required. |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sat 18 Jan ’25 to Mon 20 Jan ’25 | 2 days | 24hrs working | Closed for bridge scaffold dismantling |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sat 25 Jan ’25 to Mon 27 Jan ’25 | 2 days | 24hrs working | Closed for scaffold dismantling, bridge strengthening, repairs & painting from trackside |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sun 02 Feb ’25 to Mon 03 Feb ’25 | 1 day | 24hrs working | Closed for scaffold dismantling, bridge strengthening, repairs & painting from trackside |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sun 09 Feb ’25 to Mon 10 Feb ’25 | 1 day | 24hrs working | Closed for scaffold dismantling, bridge strengthening, repairs & painting from trackside |
| Alt Grove and Elm Grove | Sun 02 Mar ’25 to Mon 03 Mar ’25 | 1 day | 24hrs working | Closed for scaffold dismantling, bridge strengthening, repairs & painting from trackside |
Those of us who use the Alt Grove footbridge regularly might be mystified as to why so much work needs to be done on it given that it was closed for a lengthy period not so long ago and seems fine. Having to go through the town centre means exposure to traffic pollution. Also, last time the path was “refurbished” mature trees were cut down.