Media centre

Monday 9 Jul 2018

David Linden MP visits Muirhead Road bridge works to view progress

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

David Linden, Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow East, visited Muirhead Road in Baillieston today (Monday, 9 July) to view progress being made by Network Rail engineers to reconstruct the road bridge in his constituency.

The structure over the railway is being replaced as part of a wider programme of work to renew and refurbish bridges all across the railway as part of Network Rail’s UK wide Railway Upgrade Plan.

The £4m investment by Network Rail delivered during a seven month road closure has seen the existing bridge demolished and rebuilt stronger and wider to enable two way traffic, cycle route and pedestrian footpaths. The bridge parapets (side walls) will also be raised to 1.8 metres to meet modern safety standards for an electrified railway.

The number of new properties to the south of the structure makes the current single lane bridge increasingly unsustainable and the bridge as it stands is no longer fit for purpose for the volume and weight of traffic which now uses it on a daily basis.

When planning this type of work, Network Rail explores every possible option to minimise disruption to the local road network and on the local community.  The seven month full road closure represents the best possible way to reduce the duration of the closure and minimise the overall disruption to the community.

David Linden MP for Glasgow East said, “With the main frame of the new structure now in place, this is a great opportunity to see first-hand the challenges of undertaking a project of this scale and the progress being made to get the bridge re-opened – and its an impressive the level of progress that has been achieved so far.

“This work represents an enhancement for both the road and rail networks and creates a link between the communities that is fit for purpose for the volume of traffic today and  future-proofs the structure to cater for further development.

“Obviously, the scale of the works and the closure of the road presents challenges to local road users – particularly those who need to access shops and services. I will continue to encourage Network Rail to do what they can to accelerate progress on the bridge and get the road re-opened as quickly as possible.”

Laura Craig, Network Rail’s scheme project manager said: “The reconstructed bridge will deliver a stronger and wider bridge which will enable two way traffic, cycle routes and pedestrian footpath. It will accommodate current weights and volumes of traffic and anticipates future growth. 

“While we understand that the road closure is disruptive for local people in the short term, when the work is complete, the benefits of the enhanced bridge will be significant and enjoyed by the community for many years to come.

“We appreciate the patience of the local community while we carry out this important work.”

Muirhead Road is on schedule to re-open by September with work to reconstruct the bridge fully complete in October 2018.