Passengers and motorists reminded of major rail and M62 motorway closures in September

Passengers and motorists are urged to check before they travel this September as Network Rail carries out a multi-million-pound bridge replacement.

Network Rail is investing more than £22m to rebuild a 42-metre-long, 2000 tonne railway bridge that takes trains over the M62 in Castleton, near Rochdale.

For the first time in living memory, the M62 will be closed over two weekends.

The closures are on the eastbound carriageway between J18 and J20 and the westbound carriageway between J19 and J20:

• 9pm Friday 6 – 6am Monday 9 September

• 9pm Friday 20 – 6am Monday 23 September

Motorists are advised to avoid this section of the M62 during the two weekends by delaying journeys or planning alternative routes. 

From Monday 9 September until Friday 20 September, there will be nightly closures of the M62 between J19 and J20 from 9pm to 6am.

The railway will be closed from 6 September until the early morning of 25 September between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. Rail replacement buses will be in operation. Passengers are advised to check their travel in advance as journey times will be significantly longer than usual.

The bridge, known as Castleton bridge, carries 6% of the UK’s energy supply across the country, as freight trains carry material to and from Drax power station in Selby.

Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as 6% of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.

“I’d like to thank passengers and motorists for their understanding while we carry out this work. It is a unique project that sees weekend closures of the M62 for the first time. Please, check before you travel on the M62 or between Manchester and Rochdale from 6 – 25 September 2024.”

Network Rail are working with National Highways and Transport for Greater Manchester to help road users understand what the work means for them.

Steve Mason, north-west programme delivery manager at National Highways, said : “The collaboration between Network Rail and National Highways highlights our commitment to minimising disruption for both rail and road users during this essential project.

“We appreciate the understanding of passengers and motorists during this work and urge them to check travel plans for September 2024.

“National Highways is actively working with Network Rail to communicate the impact on road users and ensure a smooth process during this important upgrade.”

Last month, two 42 metre, 70 tonne steel beams were delivered to the work site during an overnight closure of the M62.

Drone footage shows the special delivery on the deserted westbound carriageway. The beams were manufactured in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland, before making the voyage over the Irish Sea to Holyhead, Wales.

The beams travelled over 200 miles by land and sea, convoyed safely with a police escort to the M62 site where the bridge will be built in situ ahead of its installation.

Since then, engineers have been working to prepare the bridge for its installation in September. So far, the team have started to assemble the bridge, install the walkway, prepared the abutments (bridge supports) and carried out some waterproofing.

During the road closure, engineers will dismantle the old bridge and take it away on the M62. The new bridge will then be installed during the second weekend.