A major project on the railway to install an accessible footbridge will go ahead later this month for the popular seaside town of Cleethorpes.
Suggitt’s lane crossing was closed in April 2019 by Network Rail for safety reasons ,and since then they have worked closely with North East Lincolnshire Council with plans being approved for the new bridge in June 2021.
The brand new footbridge, which features both stepped and ramped access, has already been manufactured offsite which means less overall disruption for the local community
Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of September will see engineers place part of the new bridge and also fit the ramped section to the promenade side of the station.
This vital part of the project can only be completed safely when no trains are running, which means that changes to services over the weekend will need to be in place as follows:
- Rail replacement buses will be in operation for TransPennine Express services between Doncaster and Cleethorpes
- East Midlands Railway services will begin or end at Grimsby Town with rail replacement buses providing connections for passengers between Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes.
- For Saturday the 25th of September, rail replacement buses will be in action for Northern services between Gainsborough Central and Cleethorpes.
Passengers are recommended to check their journeys ahead using National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and also to give themselves plenty of time.
The following phase will see the rest of the structure put into its place and also landscaping work completed to add path ways to the approach of the bridge. Lighting and CCTV will also be installed. The project is planned to be completed during December.
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “The work later this month will be a major milestone in this vital project as we continue to work to deliver a fully accessible footbridge for people in Cleethorpes.
“We’ve planned the work carefully to minimise disruption for people in the community and for passengers, but this latest stage can only be done safely when a section of the line is closed. Bus replacement services will run over the weekend to keep people moving.”
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Cabinet member for transport at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “The project is continuing apace, and I’m pleased that we’re nearing the final stages now. We’ve worked tirelessly throughout this project to keep local people informed and involved. This footbridge will provide a key link for the people of Cleethorpes to access land on the sea-ward side, including easy access to the port and the North Prom.”
Adam Fairclough, Head of Customer Insights and Improvement for TransPennine Express, said: “Whilst work continues on the accessible footbridge over the railway at Suggitt’s Lane in Cleethorpes we will be offering a bus replacement service for passengers between Doncaster and Cleethorpes on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September, with trains only running between Manchester Piccadilly and Doncaster. Passengers are advised to check the latest travel advice before they travel on our website www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times; updates will also be available on our social media channels.”
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Responses
About time. Grays in Essex also needs a new pedestrian footbridge and to demolish the old footbridge and to close the pedestrian level crossing permanently. Since there has been trespassing and near fatalities at Grays. As the Barking-Pitsea line via Grays is very busy with both c2c trains and rail freight traffic coming to & from London Gateway near Stanford-le-Hope.