After the primary weekend of 2026 noticed Clifton railway bridge demolished, the second one weekend noticed its substitute wheeled in to position.
The bridge has been changed via Community Rail and its fundamental contractor Skanska as a part of a £60m funding to make the West Coast Major Line have compatibility for the longer term.
On Saturday 10th January the brand new 4,200-tonne construction, measuring 130 metres lengthy, was once manoeuvred into position via Dutch heavylift specialist Mammoet the use of 4 self-propelled modular trailers (SPMTs) with greater than 600 wheels in general.
To permit the venture to happen, two 60-hour closures of the entire dual carriageway had been scheduled between junctions 39 and 40 over consecutive weekends.
Regardless of sub-zero temperatures and opposed climate, the dual carriageway reopened in a while prior to 4pm on Sunday 11th January – a complete 13 hours forward of agenda.
With the bridge set up just about entire, as soon as ultimate tests are entire this afternoon railway groups can get to paintings putting in new monitor and reconnecting overhead energy strains and signalling methods over the renewed construction. Whilst that takes position the railway stays closed between Oxenholme and Carlisle till get started of provider on Thursday 15th January.
Christian Irwin, Community Rail North West and Central area capital supply director, stated: “It’s a testomony to the arduous paintings of masses of people who we’ve been ready to put in this massive new construction each effectively and speedily. Now we have been in shut touch with Nationwide Highways right through so shall we capitalise on that and get the M6 reopen over part an afternoon forward of agenda to relieve drive on native roads.”
He added: “Our focal point now turns to ultimate bridge tests prior to we reinstate the tracks, overhead energy strains and signalling methods so we will absolutely reopen the West Coast Major Line via 5am on Thursday.”
Nationwide Highways programme supply supervisor Steve Mason stated: “That is the primary time in fresh reminiscence the M6 has been closed for complete weekends and follows years of cautious making plans with Community Rail. Some 48,000 cars use this segment of the M6 day by day however we selected a time of the yr when visitors volumes are at their lowest. This was once a surprisingly complicated operation and reopening the M6 13 hours early is an incredible fulfillment. Regardless of serious climate prerequisites, the groups concerned labored tirelessly to ship this essential, one-in-a-lifetime venture to future-proof one of the essential railway strains within the nation.”
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