Manton railway bridge near Oakham is set to be replaced in the next few days
trains will stop from today until Monday
Manton railway bridge near Oakham is set to be removed in the next few days. It's part of the next phase of works that will see a new bridge reconstructed from underneath to replace the 150 year old one.
From today rail services will stop until Monday to allow the works to take place. Meanwhile the section of the A6003 near the bridge will remain closed until July.
Network Rail started work on the project to replace the bridge in April and the newer, stronger one is being installed this weekend. It will mean passenger and freight services can continue running safely and reliably on the line between Melton Mowbray and Stamford/Kettering for years to come.
Teams have set up compounds, carried out preparation work and installed a temporary scaffold bridge for any wires to run across so they can be installed on the new structure. Ramps for engineers to access the track have also been put in place to make it easier for them to remove the old bridge.
Between the last train service on Thursday 3 June and the first service on Monday 7 June, the bridge will be removed. The new one – which weighs around 425 tonnes - will be installed from underneath.
Gary Walsh, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “We know this section of the A6003 is a vital connection for drivers in Rutland and the surrounding areas and we want to thank them for their patience while this vital upgrade is carried out.
“Although the first stages of the work haven’t been visible for the local community, a lot of preparation is involved before lifting the bridge and installing the new one – and the project can only be carried out safely when the road is closed.
“Reconstructing Manton bridge will mean people can safely and reliably connect to other towns and cities via rail or road for generations to come.”