Network Rail has released behind-the-scenes footage captured from track level, showcasing the significant progress made during the first major phase of the complex project to replace a vital road junction bridge in Stockport.
The Greek Street roundabout, a key traffic artery in the town, sits directly above a railway bridge carrying the Manchester spur of the busy West Coast Main Line. After 67 years of service, the bridge is now in need of a complete replacement.
Last month saw the closure of the roundabout and sections of adjacent roads for a year to facilitate the extensive works. Over the Easter bank holiday weekend, an accompanying full railway closure was implemented, allowing engineers to commence the crucial demolition of the old bridge structure.
Throughout the four-day bank holiday, hundreds of engineers from Network Rail and its contractor Murphy worked tirelessly on essential tasks. This work is laying the groundwork for the successful removal of the old bridge and the installation of its replacement, which is scheduled to be lifted into place by a large crane this August as part of the £20 million project.
The newly released footage offers a unique perspective, revealing the intricate preparations undertaken at track level for the first time.
Key work carried out over the Easter period included:
- Detailed assessment and mapping of the overhead power lines that supply electricity to trains, enabling the creation of precise plans for their removal in the summer.
- Demolition of the bridge parapets and ‘wing walls’ at street level.
- Removal of concrete block work situated beneath the bridge.
- Test drilling to determine the most effective method for the complete removal of the existing bridge structure.
Due to the scale and safety considerations of the project, no train services could operate through Stockport during the bank holiday weekend. Railway bosses have expressed their gratitude to passengers for their understanding as the route reopened for services this morning.
Patrick Vallely, Network Rail Capital Delivery head of buildings and civils, emphasised the complexity of the undertaking, stating: “This is a hugely complicated project for both road and rail – with one of Stockport’s key traffic roundabouts sitting above one of the busiest railway junctions in Greater Manchester. Our teams worked night and day over Easter and made great progress for future phases of the bridge rebuild, while making sure the railway reopened on time for passengers.
“We couldn’t have done this work without closing the road and railway, and I’d like to thank anyone whose travel plans were impacted by our major work over Easter for their patience. This is all part of our multi-million-pound ‘Strengthening Stockport’ investment to improve this critical infrastructure for decades to come.”
With road diversions expected to remain in place throughout 2025, Network Rail has established a dedicated webpage – www.networkrail.co.uk/greekstreet – to provide the latest information for residents, road users, and rail passengers.
The ‘Strengthening Stockport’ campaign is also underway to raise awareness ahead of a significant three-week full railway closure scheduled between Saturday, August 2nd, and Saturday, August 23rd.
While no further railway closures directly related to this bridge replacement are planned until the summer, rail passengers are being advised of other essential upgrade work on the West Coast Main Line during the Early May Bank Holiday, commencing in just under two weeks. This includes the complete closure of Euston station on Sunday, May 4th, and Monday, May 5th, as well as the route north of Preston.
