Major work to replace two railway bridges in Warrington is set to take place later this year.

Network Rail has said that the bridges on Bewsey Street and Foundry Street will be replaced as part of a £5m Great North Rail Project.

The bridges near Warrington Central railway station will be completely rebuilt and passengers are advised to plan ahead as the railway will be closed while the work is carried out.

Work begins in July and a three-day closure of the railway will take place over the August bank holiday weekend.

The railway will be closed between Warrington Central and Liverpool, details of replacement services and alternative routes will be announced soon.

Network Rail are hosting a virtual information event on Wednesday 9th June for local people to find out more.

While the construction work on the new bridges takes place, the footpaths beneath will be closed with diversion routes in place.

Kathryn Berry, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We’re replacing two railway bridges in Warrington this summer as part of the Great North Rail Project which will help keep trains running reliably between Warrington and Liverpool for decades to come.

“We’ve written to local people about the work and invited them to speak with us before work begins. We’d like to thank passengers and residents in advance for their patience while we carry out these essential bridge upgrades.”

Anyone wanting to book a time slot to ask questions between 4pm and 7pm needs to register by emailing [email protected], with the words “Bewsey Street and Foundry Street”.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The improvements, made as part of the Great North Rail Project, will help deliver more reliable and punctual journeys for our customers.

“We are working closely with colleagues at Network Rail to keep disruption to a minimum, but the scale of the work does mean journeys will be affected during the August bank holiday.

“We are still developing plans to ensure we can get customers where they need to be but I’d like to thank them in advance for their understanding and patience during the improvement work.”

Andy Carter, MP for Warrington South, said: “It is always great to see more investment coming to Warrington to improve our local transport infrastructure. This £5m cash injection near to Warrington Central Station will improve the reliability of services and ensure passengers aren’t held up by freight trains.

“As restrictions have lifted, we are already starting to see increases in railway usage. There will be much pent up demand for people wanting to travel to and from work again and to go on trips to Liverpool and Manchester, so these improvements are much welcomed.”

Cllr Hans Mundry, Warrington Borough Council cabinet member for highways, transportation and public realm, said: “This important work will bring a real boost to the rail network between Warrington and Liverpool. While there will be some short-term disruption while the work is carried out, the long term benefits are clear, with improved safety and smoother, more reliable rail journeys for passengers, for many years to come.”

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