Major works on historic railway bridge set to commence
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA railway bridge in Hindley will soon be demolished and replaced as part of line electrification works. Network Rail have announced that this will be the next phase of major work to electrify the railway between Wigan and Bolton.
This is part of a £78m investment to upgrade the 6.5-mile stretch of railway to enable electric trains to serve the key North West towns in the future.
Wigan Council's decision to approve the plans in November 2022 came despite objectors raising questions over whether the historic bridge on Ladies Lane, which was built in the 1840’s, should be protected from a heritage point of view alongside fears over traffic disruption. READ MORE: Five men found NOT guilty of conspiracy to murder after gang war exploded in horror attack The authority was required to approve the proposals, however, as under planning law, railway companies have the powers to carry out any work that is deemed necessary for ‘making, maintaining, altering or repairing and using the railway’.
In preparation for the installation of high-voltage overhead electricity cables, alterations need to be made to 17 railway structures.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk