The railway line between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale has reopened after a 19-day closure, marking the completion of Network Rail’s essential £22 million upgrade.
In recent months, engineers have excavated over 50,000 tonnes of earth to create a safe, bespoke worksite adjacent to the busy motorway for the assembly of the new bridge. Two 42-metre, 70-tonne steel beams, fabricated in Ireland, made a journey of over 200 miles by land and sea to reach the site.
During two weekends in September, the M62 was closed, allowing a team of over 100 workers to operate around the clock. They demolished the existing 2000-tonne bridge and replaced it with a brand-new, future-proofed structure.
The new bridge, designed with weathering steel, is expected to last 120 years and will not require painting.
Network Rail has released timelapse footage showcasing the extensive work involved in this project.
Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “We’re delighted to see that this hugely important project has been completed on schedule and the line has reopened, enabling services to resume for our customers.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience while this work took place, which will benefit rail users for many years to come.”
Over the next few weeks there will be some follow up work to finish the welding and stressing on the track, gradually bringing the line back to full speed.
Image credits: Network Rail
