Grade II listed Wigan Bridge will be raised for rail electrification

Friday 24 May 2024

Grade II listed Wigan Bridge will be raised for rail electrification

Region and route:

North West and Central

| North-West and Central: North-West

Network Rail is raising the height of a Grade II listed bridge to allow the electrification of the Wigan to Bolton line.

The £100 million electrification project will improve travel in the North West by allowing greener, cleaner and quieter electric trains to run on the line.

Road and pedestrian bridges on the route must be raised so that the 25,000-volt power lines can be safely installed above the railway, with plenty of safe distance from drivers and pedestrians.

Deep Pit Bridge is a recently grade II listed footbridge on the border between Hindley and Ince, Wigan.

The raising of the Deep Pit Bridge will see two new ramps installed, giving the bridge fully step-free access for the first time in its 150-year life.

Once the bridge is up, the project team can prepare to install the electrical wires between Hindley and Ince.

Work on the bridge is due to begin in the summer of 2024. Work will be completed in early 2025.

Sarah Bull, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “I am grateful to Wigan Council for their collaboration and to the local community for their input into the public consultation on the Deep Pit Bridge works.

“This Grade II listed structure will now be future-proofed for years to come as we raise the height of the bridge and add new ramps. This will make way for overhead power lines as part of the Wigan to Bolton electrification project.”

Network Rail consulted with the local community about the work required on the bridge.