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Thursday 15 Jun 2017

Kettering rail bridge set for upgrade

Region & Route:

| Eastern

Network Rail will upgrade the rail bridge which crosses Northampton Road in Kettering next month as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan.

The six-week-scheme is the latest part of a major project that will allow more trains to run between Northamptonshire and London.  The bridge will be substantially strengthened so that it can cater for increased volumes of trains passing over it in the future.

To allow the work to be carried out as efficiently and safely as possible, Northampton Road will be closed to road users. The closure comes into place Monday, 24 July and runs until Monday, 4 September, with a clearly signposted diversion in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project.

Spencer Gibbens, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “There isn’t ever a good time to close an important transport link like Northampton Road, but we have deliberately targeted the school holidays to allow us to carry out this important part of our Railway Upgrade Plan at a time when it will cause less disruption than it otherwise would.

“Once complete, the bridge will be able to support the increased number of trains traveling between Northamptonshire and London.  I’d like to thank motorists for their patience whilst this upgrade is completed.”

Network Rail will hold a drop-in event on Monday, 3 July at Kettering Borough Council offices between 15:00 and 18:30. Members of the project team from Network Rail will be on hand to answer any questions which residents may have.

Notes to editors

• The substantial strengthening work includes extensive brickwork repair and the installation of tie-bars and pattress plates through the bridge.
• In addition the track over the structure will be removed and excavation will take place to enable pre-cast concrete reinforcements to be installed.
• The removing and the replacement of the track will take place over night, with no disruption to train services