Impressive multi-angle footage from Network Rail shows the former Bewsey Street railway bridge being taken out at Warrington Central station, then driven through the streets of the town during the August bank holiday weekend.

Once removed, its replacement is steadily moved into place on the back of an enormous transporter vehicle.

Network Rail has undertaken the work which has seen hundreds of planners and engineers create solutions to the complex needs of the huge project, and will see five major railway bridges overhauled this year in a bid to improve journeys for both passengers and freight and keeping both moving for years to come.

The bridges which were replaced as part of the project are:

• South Lane bridge, which was replaced over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of September
• Two bridge decks were replaced at Warrington Bank Quay station during Easter
• Bewsey Street and Foundry Street bridges were replaced during the August bank holiday weekend.

The replacement of the bridges in Warrington this year saw a total massive investment of £11.35m via the Great North Rail Project (GNRP) to enable the work to go ahead. The GNRP will see a series of upgrades taking place throughout the rail network in the north of England, transforming rail travel for customers, improving connectivity to key towns and cities, bringing faster and more frequent journeys with increased capacity and reliability using environmentally friendly technology to create a cleaner and greener railway.

Chris Pye, Network Rail’s infrastructure director for the North West, said: “I’m hugely proud of the hundreds of planners and engineers who’ve worked tirelessly this year to improve Warrington’s railway for the future.

“This significant Great North Rail Project investment means more reliable journeys for passengers and freight across the North West for many decades to come. It’s also proof of the rail industry’s commitment to build back better from the pandemic as more people return to rail to get to where they need to be.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The Great North Rail Project is making a huge difference for Northern customers and is delivering improved infrastructure that will provide better journeys for many years to come.

“Our customers are at heart of everything we do and the improvements in Warrington, alongside our own enhancements to trains and stations will have a big impact for our customers using the Northern network.”

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