Media centre

Tuesday 28 Feb 2006

ROAD BRIDGE BROUGHT UP TO STRENGTH

Region & Route:

Work costing nearly £500,000 has started on Hawthorne Road, Litherland to bring it up to strength to meet the latest safety standards. The bridge, which carries the A5090 over the North Mersey Branch railway to Aintree, has been assessed by Network Rail as part of the Bridgeguard 3 programme, which is looking at nearly 1,000 bridges in the North West to ensure they are suitable to carry commercial road vehicles now permitted on Britain’s roads under recent EU legislation. Tony Wilcock, Network Rail’s Territory Civil Engineer said: “This is part of a massive programme which is being conducted nationally over the next few years. We couldn’t do it without the considerable help and cooperation of the local authorities involved. When the work is finished, this bridge will be fit for purpose for many years to come.” The bridge has three spans and generally consists of steel beams running the length of the bridge, supporting brick arches on steel pillars. Network Rail is working in partnership with Sefton Council to undertake structural work on the rest of the steelwork by carrying out maintenance painting during the scheme. The majority of the work is being funded by Sefton Council through the Local Transport Plan Settlement and involves the strengthening of the bridge beams and the replacement of old brick parapets with a new concrete parapet. It is due for completion in April, and while the work is being carried out the road will remain open to traffic but with lane restrictions implemented when required.