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Monday 17 May 2021

Network rail shortens bridge repair road closure in response to Burghley Horse Trials cancellation

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Midlands

A road due to be closed for essential repairs to Stamford Tunnel will re-open a fortnight ahead of schedule because of the recent decision to cancel the 2021 Burghley Horse Trials.

A section of Barnack Road that runs over the tunnel needs to be closed for several months so that Network Rail engineers can carry out strengthening work on the railway tunnel below.

The initial plan was for two planned closures from 3 July until 23 August, and then from 11 September until 15 November to allow the road to be re-opened during the popular horse trials event.

However, the decision by the organisers to cancel this year’s event due to the ongoing Covid pandemic means the tunnel repairs can continue uninterrupted and be completed sooner – allowing Barnack Road to re-open two weeks earlier on 1^st November.

Gary Walsh, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “The work to strengthen Stamford Tunnel to make sure it remains fit for purpose for train services to run safely and reliably long into the future inevitably means some unavoidable disruption for the local community.

“We’ve worked closely with Lincolnshire County Council from outset to minimise this and agreed to pause work during the busy few weeks of the horse trials. Now the event is not going ahead, however, we’re glad to say we can continue working throughout August and September, finish earlier and bring forward the re-opening of the road.”

First phase preparatory work has already begun on the tunnel, ahead of the more major structural repairs that will require the road above it to be closed. A signposted diversion will be put into place when this happens in July.

ENDS