Boxted Bridge remains fully closed to all vehicles and pedestrians as well as the navigation underneath.
A recent Colchester Gazette article reveals Essex Highways’ have so far spent £500,061.47 on subcontract and professional fees since the 2017/18 financial year (click here). Disappointingly, this article is not alone in disregarding the impact on river users when discussing the bridge closure.
The river was closed here in July 2023 which meant our S2C event was restricted to a single day that finished at Wissington because the Environment Agency (EA) could not approve our event without an acceptable method of navigating past the closure. Essex Highways are responsible for providing an alternative and we had thought all was in hand but, despite positive reassurances, the installation of a new portage in 2024 failed to transpire. RST was granted permission by both the Environment Agency and the landowner to install a temporary portage for S2C 2024 in lieu of the more permanent version being ready in time.
River users are still encountering a problem at this location and the River Stour Trust remains committed to addressing the issues with the relevant parties to re-open the navigation at Boxted.