The M6 through Cumbria has reopened 13 hours earlier than planned after the successful installation of a 4,200-tonne railway bridge over the motorway this weekend.
Clifton railway bridge near Penrith has been replaced by Network Rail and its principal contractor Skanska as part of a £60 million investment to make the West Coast Main Line fit for the future.
On Saturday 10 January, the new 130-metre-long structure was carefully manoeuvred into place with millimetre precision.
Time-lapse footage shows how the new pre-built bridge – which has been waiting in the wings after the old structure was demolished last weekend – was driven into place by specialist self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs).
To allow the huge civil engineering project to take place, two unprecedented 60-hour closures of the whole motorway were scheduled between junctions 39 and 40 over consecutive weekends.
Despite sub-zero temperatures and bad weather, work went so well that the motorway reopened shortly before 4pm on Sunday 11 January allowing the National Highways diversionary routes to be lifted much earlier than planned.
Last weekend both north and southbound carriageways also opened 70 minutes early.
Motorists, rail passengers and residents impacted by the £60 million project are once again being thanked for their patience during the penultimate phase of this major investment for both road and rail networks.
Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “It’s a testament to the hard work of hundreds of people that we’ve been able to install this huge new structure both successfully and speedily. We’ve been in close contact with National Highways throughout so we could capitalise on that and get the M6 reopen over half a day ahead of schedule to alleviate pressure on local roads.
“I’d like to once again thank drivers for adhering to the road diversions, and also thank the local communities impacted by them this weekend, so we could carry out this vital work to secure journeys for both road and rail users in the future. Thanks also to the hundreds of people who came to see us move the bridge into place yesterday and the support and well wishes from residents in Clifton.
Rosario Barcena, Skanska UK rail programme director, commented: “Over the course of the weekend, we’ve worked closely with Network Rail and National Highways to re-prioritise our work in order that we could re-open the motorway much earlier than planned. Before midday this was for emergency services, and now to all road-users.
“It’s been achieved thanks to our whole team, including our amazing supply chain partners. They’ve worked tirelessly across the weekend to successfully install the new Clifton railway bridge, a hugely complex and precise operation, and now re-open the motorway.”
With the bridge installation nearly complete, railway teams are now at work installing new track and reconnecting overhead power lines and signalling systems over the renewed structure. While that takes place the railway remains closed between Oxenholme and Carlisle until start of service at 05:00 on Thursday 15 January.
Image credit: Network Rail
