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Monday 5 Aug 2024

Bridge replacement in Hackney: 16 days of intensive works completed on time

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail is thanking passengers and the local community after it finished a key stage of a major project to replace a deteriorating bridge.

London Overground trains started running between Liverpool Street – Chingford again on Monday 5 August as planned after the bridge works closed the line for 16 consecutive days. There were also changes to Stansted Express and some Greater Anglia services.

The project is to replace a 150-year-old bridge in Hackney that carries the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road over the railway. The bridge was in very poor condition, with a full replacement needed to avoid an unplanned closure and keep passengers and road users moving in future.

Engineers began the 16 days by demolishing the old bridge, before starting to build the new one. Milestones during the project included:

• Installing special access to the site, lowering the overhead lines and protecting the track
• Demolishing the brick arches and parapet of the old bridge, and lifting away the metal girders
• Building the structure of the replacement bridge by lifting in concrete cill beams, infill beams and the new steel parapet
• Taking down the scaffolding and putting the overhead lines back up ready for trains to run

Although the railway under the bridge has now reopened, there is still lots of work to do, including:

• Relocating utility services
• Concreting the bridge deck
• Rebuilding the road and pavement, and putting back the street furniture

All work is expected to be completed, and Downs Park Road fully reopened, by early 2025.

The project is being carried out by Network Rail’s contractor, Murphy.

Click below to watch a video filmed shortly before the end of the 16 days showing the progress on the project:

Train services will also be affected by follow-up works on the bridge on the following dates, so passengers should check before they travel:

• Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August
• Sunday 1 September
• Sunday 8 September

In addition to the bridge replacement over the 16 days, Network Rail engineers carried out maintenance at sites up and down the Chingford line. This included refurbishing critical sets of points, improving the condition of the track ballast, and testing and replacing signalling power supply cables. London Overground also undertook additional work at a number of stations, including repairs and refurbishment of the stairs at Clapton and repairs to station canopies to protect heritage features at Chingford, Clapton and Walthamstow Central.

Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director, said: “Thousands of people travel under and over this bridge every day by rail and road, and our project is vital to keeping their future journeys safe and reliable. We’re sorry to have caused the disruption to people’s journeys this summer but the replacement bridge will serve the community for generations to come.”

Rory O’Neill, TfL’s general manager for London Overground, said: “I would like to thank customers for their patience while Network Rail completed these essential bridge replacement works. We understand closures such as these can cause inconvenience for some customers but they are vital to ensure we can continue to offer a safe and reliable service for many years to come.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: "We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this work was carried out. The bridge is very well used, and the essential works were very important to make it safe and fit for the future. Some follow-up works will also take place in August and September and customers are advised to check before they travel.”