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Monday 7 Dec 2015

Crewe residents urged to find out more about Network Rail’s £17m rail upgrade

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

People living and working in Crewe are invited to attend a drop-in session to find out more about Network Rail’s plans to strengthen the Hungerford Road bridge in Crewe, part of the company’s £17m investment in the Crewe to Manchester and Sandbach to Northwich lines.

At Crewe Library between 4pm and 6.30pm on Monday 14 December, staff from Network Rail and its contractors will be available to answer questions from local residents and businesses about the work that will extend the bridge’s life expectancy by a further 60 years.

To minimise disruption during the work, which will take place between 4 January and 10 June 2016, vehicles will be able to access to town centre for the majority of the time. A one-way system will be in operation across the bridge, meaning that only vehicles (including HGVs) travelling from Macon Way and Hungerford Road into the town centre will able to cross the bridge. Traffic approaching the bridge from the Grand Junction Retail Park, Earle Street and Vincent Street will be diverted via Vernon Way, Edleston Road and Nantwich Road.

There will be a road closure at Hungerford Road bridge from 8pm on Friday 12 February until 6am on Monday 15 February while a crane is on site to complete the reconstruction works on the southern wall of the bridge. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Mark Ashton, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: “Hungerford Road bridge is a vital link into Crewe and the investment we’re making as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan will make sure it continues to do its job safely and reliably for many decades to come.

“We know that people will have questions about our work and how it might affect them. The team from Network Rail and our contractors, along with highways officers from Cheshire East Council, will be on hand to answer any questions about access or the one-way traffic flows proposed across the bridge. We have worked closely with the council to plan the work and diversion to minimise the impact on local people and businesses as much as possible.”

In addition to Hungerford Road bridge improvements, Network Rail is improving the reliability and long-term safety of a number of historic and iconic structures along the Crewe to Manchester and the Sandbach to Northwich railway lines, including the Holmes Chapel and Peover Viaducts, and the Whatcroft underbridge and Trent & Mersey Canal bridge in Davenham.