Central section of long-closed Temple Bridge will need to be replaced, EA has confirmed

The central section of the long-closed Temple Bridge is ‘beyond repair’ and will need to be replaced, the Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed.

The bridge provided a crossing over the Thames, just upstream from Temple Lock near Marlow and Hurley, from 1989 until 2023.

But in May 2023, the bridge was closed after surveyors from the Environment Agency said it had ‘deteriorated faster than expected’.

The speed of repairs to the bridge has been heavily criticised over the years by residents, key community figures and Maidenhead’s MP Josh Reynolds.

Concerns have centred around the ‘dangerous’ diversion, which takes walkers onto Temple Lane, a 60mph road.

In May, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) invested £500,000 into repair works, split equally between Temple Bridge and Marsh Lock Horsebridge in Henley.

The removal of the damaged central section of the bridge took place during long-awaited works in November.

The Environment Agency said: “This carefully controlled process included incrementally jacking the section upwards whilst ensuring it was not snagging on the outer spans.

“The central span was finally fully disconnected from the outer spans after a nine-hour seamless operation.

“The centre span was fully lowered and moved to a secure location for inspection and storage.”

Restrictions were in place stopping river users from navigating under the bridge, but this has since been lifted following the removal of the central section.

The EA has confirmed that, following a full assessment of the central section, ‘this part of the bridge is beyond economical repair and will need to be replaced’.

It said the team has now moved into the next phase to ‘assess the integrity of the two side sections'.

The update added: “Both sections are fragile, due to the rot in the deck board and parapets, and we are currently working with our contractor to develop a safe inspection method to do this.

“We are confident that an approach will be agreed and the inspection will be complete by mid-February. This information will allow us to determine whether the side spans can be refurbished, or whether a full bridge replacement is required.”

The team has asked its contractor to present options to them ‘by the end of March’.

The outline design for the bridge refurbishment or replacement ‘are planned for completion’ by Tuesday, March 31.

“It will inform project cost estimates, our partnership funding strategy, and further communications,” said the EA. “We are currently reviewing suitable Government delivery frameworks to ensure the most appropriate contractor is identified."

The current diversion for walkers is remaining in place.

It was due to be reassessed ‘by the end of January’, with the contractor set to see ‘if any improvements can be made to the diversion’.

The results of this reassessment have not yet been released by the EA.

“We know the bridge is important to both local people and visitors using the Thames Path, and we are treating this matter as a priority,” it said on its website.