SURVIVORS of the 2004 rail disaster at Ufton Nervet breathed a sigh of relief after the new bridge was opened on Friday, December 16.

The site, which has seen 11 people die in the last 12 years, has been under construction since April and will replace the level crossing as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Seven of these deaths happened in 2004 when a motorist deliberately left his car on the tracks in the path of an oncoming train.

The incident resulted in 120 injuries and a further four people have since died at this location.

A number of people from the Ufton Nervet survivors’ group were present at the opening of the bridge, having campaigned vigorously for improvements to the site for the last decade.

Jane Hawker, a member of the group, said: “It is hard to put into words what the opening of the bridge at Ufton Nervet means to me. As a survivor of the 2004 crash, I will always live with the memories and the consequences, but the closure of the crossing means that I will no longer dread hearing about another incident happening there.

“It gives me a form of closure, and makes the area safer for the wider public.”

The new bridge cost around £7 million and the official opening means that the level crossing will be permanently closed.

Network Rail came under criticism for not starting the work sooner, following a delay due to purchasing the land and re-housing the memorial garden dedicated to the victims of the 2004 disaster.

Regional director for Network Rail, Robbie Burns, added: “The closure of this level crossing has been a long time coming for those affected by the tragedy in 2004 and we are pleased that we have now been able to separate road from rail traffic at this site.

“I would like to offer sincere thanks to the survivors’ support group and residents, who we have worked very closely with during this project. Their input has been invaluable, and I am pleased that the opening of this bridge can offer a degree of closure on the tragic incidents which have occurred here.”