The M6 through Cumbria has reopened 13 hours earlier than planned following the successful installation of a 4,200-tonne railway bridge over the motorway this weekend, marking a significant milestone in efforts to future-proof Britain's critical rail infrastructure.
Network Rail and principal contractor Skanska have replaced Clifton railway bridge near Penrith as part of a £60 million investment programme designed to enhance capacity and reliability on the West Coast Main Line – one of the busiest mixed-traffic routes in Europe.
The new 130-metre-long structure was manoeuvred into position with millimetre precision using specialist machinery. Time-lapse footage captures the pre-built bridge being driven into place by equipment fitted with more than 600 wheels, after the original Victorian-era structure was demolished during the previous weekend's closure.
The ambitious civil engineering project required two consecutive 60-hour full closures of the M6 between junctions 39 and 40 – an unprecedented move for one of the nation's busiest transport arteries. Despite challenging sub-zero temperatures and adverse weather conditions, the work progressed so efficiently that the motorway reopened shortly before 4pm on Sunday 11 January, allowing National Highways to lift diversionary routes substantially earlier than anticipated.
The previous weekend's work also concluded ahead of schedule, with both carriageways reopening 70 minutes early.
Approximately 48,000 vehicles use this section of the M6 daily, making the timing and execution of the closures critical to minimising disruption.
Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: "It's a testament to the hard work of hundreds of people that we've been able to install this huge new structure both successfully and speedily. We've been in close contact with National Highways throughout so we could capitalise on that and get the M6 reopen over half a day ahead of schedule to alleviate pressure on local roads.
"I'd like to once again thank drivers for adhering to the road diversions, and also thank the local communities impacted by them this weekend, so we could carry out this vital work to secure journeys for both road and rail users in the future. Thanks also to the hundreds of people who came to see us move the bridge into place yesterday and the support and well wishes from residents in Clifton. Our focus now turns to final bridge checks before we reinstate the tracks, overhead power lines and signalling systems so we can fully reopen the West Coast Main Line by 5am on Thursday."
Steve Mason, National Highways programme delivery manager, said: "We'd like to once again thank motorists, and particularly local residents, for their patience and support while these works have been ongoing. We're pleased to have been able to lift the diversion routes much earlier than planned.
"This is the first time in recent memory the M6 has been closed for whole weekends and follows years of careful planning with Network Rail. Some 48,000 vehicles use this section of the M6 daily but we chose a time of the year when traffic volumes are at their lowest. This was an incredibly complex operation and reopening the M6 13 hours early is a tremendous achievement. Despite severe weather conditions, the teams involved worked tirelessly to deliver this vital, one-in-a-lifetime project to future-proof one of the most important railway lines in the country."
Rosario Barcena, Skanska UK rail programme director, said: "Over the course of the weekend, we've worked closely with Network Rail and National Highways to re-prioritise our work in order that we could re-open the motorway much earlier than planned. Before midday this was for emergency services, and now to all road-users.
"It's been achieved thanks to our whole team, including our amazing supply chain partners. They've worked tirelessly across the weekend to successfully install the new Clifton railway bridge, a hugely complex and precise operation, and now re-open the motorway."
Attention now turns to the final phase of the project, with Network Rail teams working to complete bridge inspections and reinstate rail tracks, overhead line equipment and signalling infrastructure. The West Coast Main Line is scheduled to fully reopen by 5am on Thursday, with the new bridge designed to accommodate future railway upgrades and increased train frequencies on this vital north-south corridor.
Image and video credits: Network Rail
