Media centre

Wednesday 17 Aug 2016

Railway upgrade under way in Ilkeston

Region & Route:

| Eastern

The transformation of the railway around Ilkeston will advance next month as work begins on the reconstruction of Awsworth Road Bridge, as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to bring passengers a bigger, better railway. 

Awsworth Road Bridge, a 106-year-old structure which carries the road over the railway, will be replaced between September 2016 and April 2017 with a new stronger and more resilient steel structure.

The £3 million project will also deliver an improved road over the bridge giving drivers better visibility on approach and forms part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan taking place across the region.

The start of work on the bridge comes as work continues on the £10 million investment in a new station for Ilkeston, which is being led by Derbyshire County Council and delivered by Network Rail.

Network Rail is advising drivers using Awsworth Road to allow extra time for their journeys from 12 September.

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s area director for the East Midlands said: “It is an exciting time for passengers in the East Midlands and this investment is another important step in our plan to upgrade infrastructure to improve journeys and move freight from road to rail. 

“We appreciate that the diversions and road closures are inconvenient and so we have worked hard with Derbyshire County Council to minimise the impact on travellers.

“Road closures are the only way we can keep road users, pedestrians and our orange army safe while delivering these improvements. I would like to thank for the people of Ilkeston for their patience while this work takes place.”

Notes to editor

Traffic management plan details

A road diversion beginning on 12 September will mark the start of several months of construction on Awsworth Bridge, during which the bridge and approaches will remain closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Working closely with Derbyshire County Council, a road diversion has been designed that will minimise disruption and provide a suitable alternative route for vehicles via Granby Street and Rutland Street or Shilo Way and Millership Way.

However, there will be approximately eight weeks when the road diversion on Awsworth Road overlaps with the programme for the Ilkeston Station development and traffic management on Coronation Road.

Ilkeston station traffic management dates:

Coronation Road (over Station Bridge) closure dates/times:

• Saturday, 20 August 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 22 August
• Saturday, 27 August 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 29 August
• Saturday, 3 September 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 5 September

Closure dates overlapping with Awsworth Road:

• Saturday, 10 September 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 12 September
• Saturday, 17 September 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 19 September
• Saturday, 24 September 00:01 to 5am on Monday, 26 September

The partial road closure managed by two-way traffic lights on Coronation Road will remain in place at all other times between Saturday, 20 August and Sunday, 13 November.

During this time traffic will be reduced to one lane and vehicles greater than three metres wide will need to follow the specified diversion route.