GROVE Railway bridge has closed for works until Monday morning.

Bus users are being warned that the X30 stagecoach service will divert via Milton Hill, Steventon, Hanney Road and Steventon Road. 

The 31 service will divert via the A338 and Steventon Road. 

The closure came into place at 10pm on Friday and the road will reopen at 6am on the Monday.

During that time, traffic will be advised to take the A417 and A34.

Network Rail will also take possession of the railway beneath the bridge for part of that time to stop trains running.

The company is demolishing the bridge which used to carry the A338 over the railway and which was replaced by a new bridge which opened in June.

Network Rail built a new, higher bridge to make room for overhead electric wires on the line beneath as part of its electrification of the Great Western Mainline.

The firm will also be closing Challow Rail Bridge for two weekends in November for road surface repairs.

The bridge, which carries the A417 between Wantage and Faringdon, will shut from 10pm on Friday, November 18, to 6am on Monday, November 21.

It will shut again from 10pm on Friday, November 25, to 6am on Monday, November 28.

Traffic will be diverted via East Hanney, the A420 and the A417.

Network Rail abandoned its original plan to close the bridge for two weeks after Wantage MP Ed Vaizey raised objections.

Shuttle bus schedule:


Friday
From Grove Green at 20:10 and run every 30 minutes until the 23:10 departure
From Wantage Market place at 19:55 and run every 30 minutes until the 22:55 departure

Saturday
From Grove Green at 07:40 & 08:20 then running every 30 minutes until the 19:20 departure.
Later services will run from Grove Green at 20:10 and then every 30 minutes until the 23:10 departure.
From Wantage Market place at 08:05 and run every 30 minutes until the 19:05 departure.
Later services will run from Wantage Market place at 19:55 and then every 30 minutes until the 22:55 departure.  

Sunday
From Grove Green at 08:40 and run every 30 minutes until 11:10 then every 60 minutes until 16:10.
Later services will run from Grove Green at 16:40 and every 30 minutes until 18:40.
From Wantage Market place at 08:55 and run every 30 minutes until 10:55 then every 60 minutes until 15:55.
Later services will run from Wantage Market place at 16:25 and every 30 minutes until 18:55.