Berkeley Station Bridge

Update: Monday 29 September 2025 

We are pleased to confirm that negotiations between Wales and West Utilities (WWU) and the adjoining landowner have now concluded. The easement agreement will allow WWU to permanently relocate their gas pipe from inside our bridge, into the adjoining field. 

We are expecting WWU to relocate their gas pipe before Christmas 2025. This work will take place under a full road closure. We cannot repair our bridge until their gas pipe has been successfully relocated. Our repairs are now expected to take place in early 2026. 

The bridge is currently in extremely poor condition and requires extensive repairs. The spandrel wall is severely damaged and continues to deteriorate. The temporary lights are essential to reduce loading on the structure and must remain in place until the bridge is repaired. 

We would like to thank both Wales and West Utilities and the adjoining landowner for their cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact highwaysinfrastructure@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

Berkeley Station bridge is a road bridge carrying Station Road, Berkeley in Stroud. The bridge has a 1.1m wide footway and 5.4m carriageway over the Berkeley Pill watercourse.

Work required

The bridge requires major structural repairs to the spandrels, parapets and wingwalls. The upstream spandrel and wingwalls are bulging and there are cracks running throughout the arches. Gloucestershire County Council aim to repair these defects later this financial year, including:

• Fully remove and rebuild the damaged downstream spandrel, parapet and wingwalls.
• Pin the upstream spandrel and wingwalls using tie rods.
• Thoroughly crack-stitch both arches.

Preparation

There is currently a large gas main running directly through this bridge, which must be relocated before any repairs can begin on site. This gas main is owned by Wales and West Utilities (WWU), who we are already in discussion with. Once their gas main is relocated, our repairs can begin. Please note: relocating a gas main into private land requires an easement agreement between WWU and the landowner, which can take a significant amount of time to be negotiated. This process is currently ongoing.

Our repairs will involve major excavations across the bridge and therefore a full closure of Station Road will be required. We are also working in collaboration with an ecologist, to ensure no water voles are harmed or disturbed. We are currently expecting to begin our repairs in Spring 2026.  

Live updates on this project, including details of the eventual road closure and diversion route, will be published here when confirmed. In the meantime, please direct any questions to highwaysinfrastructure@gloucestershire.gov.uk.