27.01.15
NR starts ‘essential’ Manchester to Preston electrification bridge rebuilds
Between now and June 2015, Network Rail is to rebuild five bridges over the railway between Bolton and Chorley on the Manchester to Preston line as part of the electrification of the route.
In order to electrify the line the bridges have to be rebuilt to increase the clearance underneath to accommodate overhead lines.
Network Rail stated that each of the five structures requires ‘significant’ work to replace the bridge deck, which can only be completed during 24/7 working over weekends when the railway is closed.
The five bridges that will be rebuilt, and the dates the work will take place, are:
- Stump Lane, Chorley: full closure already in place until 12 May 2015
- Rawlinson Lane, Adlington: full closure already in place until 22 May 2015
- Chorley Road, Heath Charnock: full closure already in place until 19 June 2015
- Station Road, Blackrod: full closure from 2 February – 15 May 2015
- Grimeford Lane, Blackrod: full closure from 2 March to 12 June 2015
Network Rail said the bridges have to be completed simultaneously so the electrified railway between Manchester and Preston via Bolton will be available for use by December 2016.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “These bridge rebuilds are an essential part of the electrification of the railway which will provide passengers with a faster, more reliable and efficient railway.
“With only a limited number of weekends available when we can stop all train services and numerous bridges to be rebuilt, it is not possible to complete one bridge at a time.”
Once the work is complete, Network Rail says the five new bridges will not need any major work for over 100 years, providing “additional benefits to the local road network in the future”.
However, local residents in Adlington have said they are bracing themselves for “road chaos” as the latest rail electrification work started, with fears that temporary double yellow lines will cause “severe problems”.
Network Rail has apologised for the disruption caused to the surrounding road network, but says “we have worked closely with the local authority to plan the diversions and will complete the work in the quickest and safest possible way”.
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