A Grade II listed railway bridge in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, is to be replaced in a complex £5.1m operation that will preserve many of the original features.
A Grade II listed railway bridge in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, is to be replaced in a £5.1m upgrade. New Civil Engineer reports that the project will aim to preserve many of the original features of the structure, in a complex operation that is expected to take several weeks.
The bridge crosses the busy Buxton Road, which connects the wider Stockport region to Buxton. The road will remain closed throughout the operation, with diversions in place. The work will be carried out by Network Rail, who have explained that without vital strengthening work, the bridge will be a liability to the local rail network.
Network Rail principal route engineer Rob Stephens said: “It was positive to meet residents and business owners recently so we could have the chance to explain in detail why this vital bridge upgrade needs to be carried out, and also fully understand their concerns and what more we could do to reduce the impacts of our work on the town.
He added: “Because of the bridge’s special heritage status, we have to preserve as many of its original features as possible, which means the work will take much longer than a standard bridge replacement.”
“We’re committed to keeping everyone up to date while our work to secure Whaley Bridge’s railway link progresses and will be working as hard as we can to make sure the full road closure is as short as possible.”
The bridge was built in 1863, and has four cast iron arched ribs that are joined in the centre. It carries the rail line through the High Peak town of Whaley Bridge, connecting Stockport, Disley, and Buxton.
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