Station Road Bridge at Braughing in Hertfordshire spanned the erstwhile Buntingford branch, claimed by the Beeching cuts in 1964. The existing structure replaced the original which was timber-built in 1863.

Successive custodians have largely neglected the bridge. Corrosion has reduced the strength of both edge beams, not helped by a botched paint job in 2008. So now National Highways has decided to infill the span with hundreds of tonnes of concrete - a solution intended to reduce long-term maintenance liabilities.

But they’ve given no meaningful consideration to the bridge’s heritage value. It forms part of a coherent group of historic railway assets with the preserved station next door. It frames a view of the site from a public footpath.

Propping and repair are both viable options, and their cost is comparable with infilling.

Members of the local history society have launched a campaign to challenge National Highways. Please support the society by signing its online petition.

https://www.change.org/p/save-bridge-2062-from-being-infilled

Many thanks once again.