The railway bridge at the 'The Ocean', Stonehouse was demolished by British Rail as a cost saving measure in the late 1960s.
Between December 25th and 31st, 2021 a new bridge was constructed by Network Rail as part of the Cotswold Canals Connected restoration scheme. Work continued on site until May 2022.
The bridge was officially opened on 23 May 2022 and named 'Ocean Jubilee Bridge'.
(Page first published 01/01/2022, last updated 05/06/2022.)
Click images to enlarge.
Photos 1-64 of 64
The starting point...
1. Previous bridge removed 1968. (Courtesy Museum in the Park)
2. Railway foot tunnel. (CCiP)
3. Railway looking towards M5. (CCiP)
4. Railway looking towards Stroud.(CCiP)
5. Just big enough for a kayak! (Courtesy Network Rail)
6. A hint of what's to come. (CCiP)
Casting bridge components on site
7. Setting-up the work site - Jan. 2021. (Photo: Ken Bailey)
8. Casting the bridge components - Feb. 2021. (Photo: Ken Bailey)
9. Bridge components ready. (Courtesy Network Rail)
10. Elevation of proposed bridge (Network Rail / CCiP)
Fish Rescue
11. Fish rescue. (Courtesy Network Rail)
12. Helping with the fish 'rescue'. (CCiP)
Removing the embankment
13. Ready to start. (Courtesy Network Rail)
14. Removing the track. (Courtesy Network Rail)
15. Removing the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
16. Removing the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
17. Removing the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
18. Removing the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
19. Removing the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
20. Foot tunnel removed. (Courtesy Network Rail)
21. (Courtesy Network Rail)
22. (Courtesy Network Rail)
Preparing the bridge foundations
23. Preparing the foundations. (Courtesy Network Rail)
24. (Courtesy Network Rail)
25. (Courtesy Network Rail)
26. (Courtesy Network Rail)
27. (Courtesy Network Rail)
28. Foundations complete.(Courtesy Network Rail)
Lowering-in the bridge components
29. First bridge culvert section being lowered. (Courtesy Network Rail)
30. (Courtesy Network Rail)
31. (Courtesy Network Rail)
32. (Courtesy Network Rail)
33. (Courtesy Network Rail)
34. (Courtesy Network Rail)
35. First four culvert sections in place. (Courtesy Network Rail)
36. All eight culvert sections in place. (Courtesy Network Rail)
37. Next the wing wall sections! (Courtesy Network Rail)
38. First wing wall section being lowered. (Courtesy Network Rail)
39. (Courtesy Network Rail)
Re-instating the embankment on each side of the bridge
40. Re-instating the embankment. (Courtesy Network Rail)
41. (Courtesy Network Rail)
42. (Courtesy Network Rail)
43. (Courtesy Network Rail)
Putting back the railway
44. Putting back the railway. (Courtesy Network Rail)
45. (Courtesy Network Rail)
46. Putting down track ballast. (Courtesy Network Rail)
47. Replacing the track. (Courtesy Network Rail)
48. (Courtesy Network Rail)
49. Ballast tamping machine in action. (Courtesy Network Rail)
50. (Courtesy Network Rail)
The finished bridge and towpath
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