Burford Bridge Abingdon Works 2026: river restriction notice
Published 11 September 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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When
Monday 14 September to Friday 30 October 2026.
Where
Culham reach, Burford Bridge Abingdon.
Details
Works will consist of minor repairs to the bridge including concrete and masonry repairs under Burford Bridge Abingdon.
During this time there will be a restriction under the bridge arch. Caution is to be taken by boat masters when travelling in this area. Masters must take note of any instructions given by staff, as to navigation past this point.
Works in the watercourse will be completed from a works pontoon with scaffold towers affixed to these.
Navigation through the bridge will be restricted during the dates outlined above. During the works, the available bridge arch will have a maximum navigable clearance of 3.4 metres. Vessels requiring a greater air draft will not be able to transit through the bridge during this period. Affected users are advised to plan their journeys accordingly.
Masters are responsible for the craft and crews’ safety at all times, and should familiarise their crew with the closure, when navigating within the Culham reach.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.
And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:
The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.
The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.
Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993.