Thames Water's £5m upgrade for bridge over vital water supply

Thames Water is investing almost £5 million to create a wider bridge over a 400-year-old aqueduct that will ease traffic congestion in a busy part of Hertfordshire.

The UK’s largest water company will be demolishing Rye Road Bridge, which passes over the New River in Hoddesdon, and upgrading it with a larger crossing fit for the future.

The New River is a manmade waterway which carries water ready to be treated and supplied to 700,000 Londoners. The current bridge was built in 1906 and is just one lane wide.

The £4.7 million replacement bridge will allow traffic to pass in both directions at the same time, while it will also be strengthened to carry more weight.

This work will be carried out in three phases with staggered road closures in order to reduce disruption. Rye Road will be closed from Thursday until Monday (June 15), with further works planned in July and August.

Rob Keen, Thames Water, said: “This is an important piece of work to replace the current 100-year-old bridge with a more up-to-date crossing.

“The new bridge will help ease the traffic flow in Hoddesdon, as well as protecting the historic New River, which is a vital supply of drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people.”

Hertfordshire county councillor Phil Bibby, cabinet member for highways and environment, said: “We are pleased to see Thames Water investing in this bridge, as a key route providing access for local residents to Rye House Station.

“This infrastructure investment will also compliment the New Bridge on Essex Road currently being delivered by Hertfordshire County Council, in partnership with Broxbourne Borough Council and the Hertfordshire LEP, to improve accessibility to the Hoddesdon Business Park.”

Thames Water is continuing to carry out essential work during the coronavirus outbreak, in line with government guidelines.

Those working in the water and sewerage industry have been identified by the government as key workers and customers can expect to see the company’s engineers working in their communities to maintain essential water and wastewater services during the pandemic and prevent problems in the future.

Workers will be on site in Hoddesdon from 7.30am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays and 9pm to 5pm on weekends.