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Friday 24 Mar 2017

Chorley residents advised of overnight bridge work as railway upgrade continues

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Two bridges in Chorley are to be closed overnight to pedestrian and vehicle traffic next month as Network Rail continues to build a better railway in Lancashire.

The Great North Rail Project, part of Network Rail’s national Railway Upgrade Plan, will deliver an electrified railway between Manchester and Preston via Chorley by December 2017.

The upgrade will provide passengers with a better railway with quieter, more reliable services, and is part of a wider £1bn+ investment in the rail network across the north of England.

Brook Street bridge in Chorley will be closed overnight for 16 nights between 10pm and 6am from 2 April, every night apart from Fridays.

Lyons Lane bridge will be closed overnight for 12 nights between 10pm and 6am from 22 April, every night apart from Fridays.

The closures are needed so the height of walls on both bridges can be increased to improve public safety for when electric wires are installed underneath. Fencing in the area around both bridges will be upgraded to help improve security.

Rhiannon Price, project manager from Network Rail said: “This essential work is part of our ongoing investment to provide a better railway between Manchester and Preston. The closures are needed to safely carry out safety improvements which are needed as part of the electrification of the line and can only be done when trains are not running. We will do all we can to keep disruption to a minimum and thank local people and businesses in advance for their patience.”

Clearly signed diversions will be put in place and everything will be done to keep noise down to a minimum.

Anyone with questions can call Network Rail’s national help line on 03457 114 141.