Bridge replacement in Crewe closes Middlewich Road until October

Demolition has begun of ‘Boulderstones Bridge’, which carries the A530 Middlewich Road in Crewe. It is being replaced in a £5.7 million project that will be completed by October 2020.

The main structure will be lifted out under a weekend possession of the railway at the end of June 2020, while the new bridge will go in during a blockade of the Crewe to Chester line on 15 to 23 August 2020.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are being warned this section of the A530 will be closed for the duration of the work, with a diversionary route put in place.

Oluwole Osunneye, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “We are grateful to road users in Cheshire for their patience whilst we build a new bridge on Middlewich Road.

“I appreciate any work like this is disruptive while it takes place, but the complete renewal of this bridge now will reduce the need for future maintenance meaning fewer traffic and train delays in the years to come.”

Network Rail has been working with highways teams at Cheshire East Council, car manufacturer Bentley, whose factory is close to the work, and the nearby Leighton Hospital, to try to minimise any traffic disruption caused by this essential railway bridge renewal.

This major bridge replacement follows the successful £11 million bridge refurbishment scheme of another railway bridge in Crewe, at Sydney Road, in September last year.