The Victorian-era structure at Hampden Park station in East Sussex was closed for three months while Network Rail contractors carried out essential repairs and upgrades to extend its lifespan and improve safety.
Works included the replacement of stairs and decking with more durable materials, offering greater slip resistance and a design life of up to 25 years.
Hampden Park footbridge has been refurbished (Image: Network Rail)
Strengthening works were also carried out to ensure the footbridge can safely handle future passenger use.
Tom Easdown, head of stations at Southern Rail, said: “We’re delighted the footbridge at Hampden Park is open again and fully refurbished.
“I’d like to thank our passengers for bearing with us.”
To protect the integrity and heritage of the structure, the central span was removed for off-site refurbishment, allowing trains to continue running throughout the project.
Tim Leighton, Sussex route infrastructure director for Network Rail, said: “The bridge at Hampden Park needed significant strengthening and refurbishment to keep it safe for years to come.
“It was a complex operation involving lifting the structure out by crane and transporting it by road for specialist work.
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this vital work was completed.”
Other improvements included the installation of new handrails, safety mesh to prevent objects falling onto the tracks, and renewed tactile paving at the top of the footbridge and on the platforms to aid visually impaired passengers.
The existing paint system, which had reached the end of its service life, was replaced with a modern protective coating to improve resistance to weather and reduce the need for future repairs.
Passenger services continued to operate throughout the refurbishment thanks to the off-site restoration approach.
The bridge has now fully reopened to the public.
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