29th January

Didn't have a lot of time this weekend to visit the site with the tax return deadline looming.  Tax is taxing no matter what they say!  I went via the Icknield Way and took the first shot from there looking towards the site compound. Not a lot of change as far I could see. 

This shot shows the haul road winding its way towards the existing Cambridge line with a train passing.  I was in Wilbury Way during the week and saw half a dozen lorries loaded with hardcore on this road.  Guess it will all have to be removed when the work is complete.

Turning the other way, the haul road passes through the new gates into the sewage treatment works towards the mainline and the gas works.

Moving back to the other side of the main line, I found out what the yellow pipe is for.  It is a gas main diversion that has to be done before the main work can start.  It is now in a trench.  This shows it passing over a drainage channel that emerges from under the embankment. 

This shows the other end where it meets the existing pipe that appears from under the embankments.  In an earlier picture of bridge two of the Bedford branch, the main that is being diverted can be seen passing over the River Hiz 

 A digger and dumper had been busy removing the Bedford embankment.  Sad to see this as it was only recently revealed but I guess this is progress.  The earth covering is actually quite thin as the revealed chalk shows.  It is a wonder such large trees grew and thrived there.   From the peg markings this will happen all the way back to the bridge.  The spoil from this is being stored on the triangle to the left as the bottom photo shows.

 A shot back towards the scrapyard from Bedford embankment (through the new permanent security fence)

Photo of the "landfilled" triangle with the spoil heap.  The ground is pretty well churned up now.

Latest developments at Bury Mead Springs

Today I had another look at the Bury Mead Springs area not expecting to see much change.  However I was surprised to see that there had been quite a bit of activity on site.  I will upload the photos now and add the commentary tomorrow as it is quite late now.

Looking back towards the scrapyard some steel piling or similar has been installed on the left.  A wide area of ground has been cleared compared to my original survey photos,

 Slightly longer shot.  The embankment has been cleared of its tree roots in some places.  I guess this will have to be done all the way along if they want to avoid future problems.  Some of the stumps are quite substantial.

 A site container has appeared since my last visit.

 Moving further along, the last pile of tree trunks awaiting removal.

 Moving up onto the triangle between the two embankments, the security fence was down.  Not much change here other than clearance of the main line embankment where the viaduct will cross.

 A shot of the Bedford embankment looking back towards Hitchin. A permanent fence is in the process of being installed to the right in the meadow so access here will soon be difficult.

Looking the other way you can see a heap of removed roots etc on the embankment

The toilets that were the first items on site give a reference point for the earlier pictures of this area.  Not sure what the yellow pipe is that can be seen extending out from the side of the scrapyard.  Behind the embankment the National Grid gasworks is now visible.

First photos of 2012

The preparatory works continue apace in the new year.  The haul road has reached the former sewage treatment works as the first photo shows.  There is evidence of plant inside the fence on the left. 

The second photo looks into the former settlement beds where a digger and dumper truck have been at work.  I can remember passing there years ago and seeing a sea of tomato plants growing.  No prizes for guessing how they were sown!  That can't be a great location to be digging out.

The next looks towards the works compound from the same spot.

Moving round to Hillgate there is more evidence of plant working.

Looking to the right, there is a clear view of the haul road snaking away from the existing embankment.

Final shot straight ahead towards the compound with the haul road passing across the middle.  The fence posts now have wire strung along the entire length.  The new embankment has to be constructed by September so this phase will be fairly intensive with a continuous stream of lorries arriving and departing.