On 30 June 2023 Essex Highways implemented an Emergency Closure of  Boxted bridge citing concerns regarding its deteriorating condition and loading capacity following their bridge inspection on 28.06.2023  "while highways engineers access the situation and consider next steps." 

Ringway Jacobs A8 Emergency Action Log 29.06.2023 (on ECC  Boxted bridge webpage) states "A structural assessment based on the recent findings of the PI should be undertaken urgently in order to better understand the risks to the public. Consideration should be given to intrusive investigation of the hidden elements in order to ascertain their condition."

NO STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT. TO SAY IN A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THAT AN EMERGENCY ACTION IS "URGENT", THEN DO NOTHING, IS TO TREAT THE PUBLIC WITH CONTEMPT. 

ESSEX HIGHWAYS (WHO WILL BE READING THIS) ARE WELL AWARE OF A SIMPLE STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT TEST  USED TO INPUT DATA INTO A FINITE ELEMENT MODEL AND ALLOW A MUCH MORE ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OF A BRIDGE.  THE TEST IS BEING CARRIED OUT ON ANOTHER HIGHWAYS BRIDGE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, IT CARRIES NO RISKS TO IT'S OPERATORS, BUT FOR MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN IGNORING IT. 

ONE YEAR OF MASSIVE INCONVENIENCE WITH NO SIGN OF ANY ACTION OR PROGRESS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Save our bridge!