A railway bridge at Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire is to be closed to road traffic on Saturday nights until the end of April, then on weekdays from Monday, 8th May until Friday, 14th July.

The closure is in connection with a £1.5 million programme to strengthen the bridge, which carries the Midland Main Line over the B530 Ampthill Road in Kempston Hardwick to improve the reliability of train services for passengers. During the work, Network Rail engineers will repair and strengthen the bridge’s steel girders and bridge deck, and improve the drainage and guttering on the structure.

The work to reinforce the bridge over which millions of rail passengers travel each year between Luton and Bedford and further afield will ensure that rail journeys will be more reliable and on time, and less maintenance on the bridge will be required or the next decade.

The full closure of the railway bridge on the B530 Ampthill Road is as follows:

• 11pm Saturday, 18th until 7am Sunday, 19th March;
• 11pm Saturday, 25th until 7am Sunday, 26th March;
• 4pm Saturday, 1st until 5am Monday, 3rd April – note the extended closure times;
• 11pm Saturday, 15th until 7am Sunday, 16th April;
• 11pm Saturday, 22nd until 7am Sunday, 23rd April;
• 11pm Saturday, 29th until 7am Sunday, 30th April;
• 6am Monday, 8th May until 5pm Friday 14th July;

Whilst the bridge is closed to traffic, a signed diversion will be in place via the A6 Wixams Bypass, Wilstead Bypass, Ampthill to Mauden Bypass, and Hazelwood Lane.

To ensure drivers are aware of their correct route, before setting out they should check their route with the One.Network web site at https://one.network/?tmi=GB24570065

The work will also affect rail services in the area, and more details of the service changes will be published nearer the time.