Network Rail to rebuild South Lane railway bridge

The £2.85m project will “secure the future of journeys for rail passengers between Manchester and Liverpool”, according to the arm’s length public body.

South Lane railway bridge near Warrington will be rebuilt between the Widnes and the Sankey for Penketh stations.

The work is part of Network Rail’s Great North Rail Project, a multi-billion pound programme of improvements to the region’s railway infrastructure. Other projects include upgrading the Transpennine Route and extending platforms in the North.

Rebuilding railway bridges will help keep the railway safe and reliable, according to Network Rail.

“The work on South Lane railway bridge as part of the Great North Rail Project will secure the future of the railway through Warrington for decades to come,” said William Brandon, scheme project manager for Network Rail.

Work on South Lane railway bridge will take place over 13 weeks starting on 2 August. During that time, the road beneath the bridge will be closed. It will reopen at the end of October. In the meantime, drivers and cyclists will be diverted via Widnes Road (A562) and Watkinson Way (A557).

The railway line itself will be closed on 11 and 12 September to allow for work to be done.

Two other rail bridges near Warrington are also being rebuilt by Network Rail this summer: Bewsey Street and Foundry Street. Those schemes are also part of the Great North Rail Project. Work is expected to begin on those bridges this month.

Your Comments

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Ensuring the rail links between two of the country’s biggest cities aren’t severed is hardly “investment”!!

This is basic maintenance and renewal, without which trains would be at risk of derailment. If they are trying to sell this kind of work to us as if we should be grateful for it it really shows up how little we actually get.

By Jeff

Agree with Jeff. Less than 3 million pounds between historically two of the great cities of Europe is a headline?

By Elephant

Two of the UK`s biggest and vibrant cities and yet Network Rail make a big splash about a £2.85 million refurbishment of a bridge to secure the future of the rail connection.
If this was Spain or France there would be ten of millions invested in this connection, including infrastructure, longer trains, and higher speeds.
It`s indicative of the snail`s pace that any levelling up is undertaken, and even that seems begrudged.

By Anonymous

When will the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan be published. Will it support the NPR plans agreed by TfN with the local authorities.

Has the Great North Rail Plan been funded and is additional to the NPR projects?.

By Clive Broadhead

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