A project to replace bridges carrying London Overground trains over roads in the Forest Gate area will begin later this summer.
Network Rail will be replacing the following bridges:
- Talbot Road – E7 0DX
- Strode Road – E7 0DU
- Stracey Road – E7 0HG
- Latimer Road – E7 0LH
The old bridges are monitored closely to check they are safe, but they are 130 years old and need to be replaced to avoid unplanned disruption and keep everyone moving reliably in the future. The new bridges are expected to last until around the year 2150.
All the bridges are on the London Overground Suffragette line, between Leytonstone High Road and Woodgrange Park stations.
Work will begin at the Talbot Road and Stracey Road bridges on 1 September, with engineers starting on site at Strode Road and Latimer Road on 28 September. The road and pavement will be closed under each bridge throughout the project, with other road closures in the area being needed for shorter periods during 2027.
The first phase of the works will be to extend the support structures at the ends of the existing bridges so they can carry the new decks. Following this, the demolition of the old bridge decks and installation of the new spans is set to be carried out in spring 2027, with the project to be completed by late summer 2027.
Some weekend closures on the Suffragette line will be needed in 2027 as part of the scheme.
Residents and businesses have been sent letters advising them about the works, and public drop-in sessions are planned in August so people can meet the project team and ask any questions. These sessions will be held at the Forest Gate Learning Zone on the following dates:
- Thursday 6 August, 10.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 12 August, 5.00pm – 7.30pm
The address for the Forest Gate Learning Zone is 1 Woodford Road, London, E7 0DH. Attendees should use the entrance on the corner of Dames Road and Clinton Road.
Further updates will be provided as the works progress, with additional drop-in sessions also being arranged in the coming months.
The project to replace the bridges is being delivered by Network Rail’s contractor, BAM.
Joe Kennedy, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “Thousands of people travel over these old bridges every day by train, passing through residential areas in east London. Our project will deliver four brand new bridges that will serve the surrounding community and rail passengers for several generations. We’re really sorry for the disruption and we’ll work very closely with residents and businesses to keep the impact to a minimum while we get the job done.”Work to start on vital replacement of four east London railway bridges
Image credit: Network Rail