Time capsule celebrates early completion of work on M5 Gloucester Bridge
A time capsule has been secured to the M5 Gloucester Painswick Bridge.
Project sponsor Dave Frampton, Upton St Leonards teacher Kat Wood and project manager Roland Parsloe watch Year 6 pupils David Copestake; Poppy Wynter, Billy Cockle and Lorelie Robert put items in the time capsule
A time capsule has been secured to the M5 Gloucester Painswick Bridge to celebrate the early completion of £4.3 million of essential maintenance work.
Pupils from nearby Upton St Leonards Church of England Primary School prepared a variety of items, celebrating the school’s work and history, to be placed in the capsule.
On Tuesday, February 3, pupils from Year 6 watched as the capsule was bolted into place on one of the new 26 metre beams underneath the bridge, which is situated between Junctions 11a-12 of the M5 near Gloucester.
Highways Agency Project Sponsor Dave Frampton, said,
“We’re delighted that the pupils from Upton St Leonards Church of England Primary School have provided work that will mean a small slice of local history will be preserved on our bridge for posterity.
“The local community have been very patient while we carried out this essential maintenance and so we are very pleased that we have been able to complete the work three months ahead of schedule and at a saving of £500,000 to the tax payer.
“The work that has been carried out over the last 11 months will ensure the bridge and this section of the M5 stay safe and reliable for road users for many years to come.”
The 40-year-old bridge had suffered with drainage problems over recent years and this led to the concrete in the deck becoming saturated and suffering deterioration. The deck has now been fully replaced along with the supporting beams.
Upton St Leonards Church of England Primary School is situated just half a mile away from Gloucester Painswick Bridge and many pupils walk under it on their way to school.
The pupils from the school council, have all written letter to the future to be put in the capsule.
Teacher, Kat Wood, said
“We were delighted to have been asked to take part in the project. The school council enjoyed writing to the future and had some interesting ideas as to how the future will look!”
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