Railway bridge to be demolished and rebuilt in £5m project over Christmas
The works form part of improvements to the Doncaster to Leeds line
Network Rail has announced plans to demolish and reconstruct the rail bridge spanning Agbrigg Road, adjacent to Sandal and Agbrigg railway station in Wakefield.
This initiative forms part of broader enhancements on the railway line connecting Doncaster and Leeds.
The current bridge has been identified as structurally inadequate due to its steel girders, which has necessitated weight restrictions and close monitoring to ensure safety. The new bridge will be designed to last 120 years, eliminating the need for these constraints and enhancing resilience against vehicle impacts that have previously risked disruption on both the road and rail.
The replacement work is scheduled to take place during a period when train services will be halted, beginning in the early hours of Christmas Eve and continuing until 8am on Sunday, December 27.
The process will start with the removal of railway tracks and ballast atop the bridge, followed by demolition using a 50-tonne excavator.
Subsequently, the new bridge deck, delivered in two parts, will be installed, waterproofed, and equipped with drainage before railway tracks are reinstated.
Sean Ellerby, Network Rail portfolio manager, commented: “We’re sorry to residents who will be impacted by this vital work over the festive period. Christmas provides a unique opportunity for our teams to access the track and complete the work in a much shorter time than would otherwise be possible.”
He added: “We’re investing almost £5 million on the new bridge to help us maintain a safe, reliable railway and avoid future disruption. We’d like to thank residents and road users for their patience while this work takes place.”
In preparation for the main works, a replacement bridge is already being constructed at a nearby compound before its installation. Road users should anticipate disruption ahead of and during the project, with temporary traffic lights installed on Agbrigg Road from November 8. Saturday night closures will begin November 14, culminating in a full road closure coinciding with the Christmas works.
Wakefield Council has coordinated a signed diversion route for vehicles, and some parking spaces will be temporarily suspended to ensure the safe movement of construction equipment and traffic management teams during the project.