Media centre

Monday 25 Jul 2016

Community invited to find out more about Cleland bridge rebuild

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

 

Network Rail will shortly start work on the railway bridge on Biggar Road, Cleland, as part of wider work on the Shotts line ahead of the electrification of the route by 2019.

 

The project team will host a community drop in event between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday 10^th August in the Senior Citizen Centre, Main St, Cleland, to give local residents a chance to find out about the work, what is happening, and when.

Work on the five-month programme to replace the bridge deck and raise the height of the parapets gets underway on the 8^th August and will see Biggar Road close for the duration of works to enable the project to be delivered safely. 

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, either over the existing structure or on a temporary bridge that will be installed ahead of the demolition of the bridge deck.

Network Rail is carrying out bridge replacements at 17 locations and increasing the height of 10 existing bridge parapets (side walls) ahead of the electrification of the Shotts line. This is to create sufficient space to allow overhead electrification cables to be installed safely under bridges.

Members of the project team and contractors will be on hand on the 10^th to answer any questions from the public about what is being done, and why, both on the bridge and the wider work to electrify the line through the village.

Michelle McCaig, Network Rail’s project manager for the bridge clearance work, said: “Closing Biggar Road is unavoidable to deliver the work safely and we have worked with the council to put in place a diversion route for road traffic during this time. Pedestrian access, and for those on bikes, will be maintained throughout.

“We appreciate that the road closure will cause some disruption locally, but experience has shown that this is the safest and most efficient way to deliver the work in a way that minimises the overall disruption for the community.

“Network Rail apologises in advance for any inconvenience and thanks the community for their patience and understanding as we deliver this important investment in Scotland’s railway.”

This project is part of the Scottish Government’s programme of electrification which is being delivered by Network Rail as part of their nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan.

Updates on the project and latest information about the work will be posted on twitter @ShottsLineElec