Drop-in session for strengthening work on East Ardsley bridge this week

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY NETWORK RAIL AND LEEDS CITY COUNCIL

A public drop-in event will be held this week as the next phase of the Railway Upgrade Plan gets set to begin in Leeds.

Fall Lane bridge in East Ardsley, which crosses the Wakefield line that runs between Leeds and Sheffield, will be strengthened, painted and waterproofed as part of a £2.35m joint project with Leeds City Council.

The scheme will see the bridge closed to road traffic between Saturday, 8 October and Monday, 19 December, with a temporary road diversion in place.

Once complete, the bridge will see the current three tonne weight restriction, which was imposed in 2010, lifted and replaced with a 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit order which will allow it to be used by buses and local goods delivery vehicles.

The public information event will take place in the main hall of East Ardsley Primary School on Wednesday, 21 September between 14.30 and 18.30, with members of the project team on hand to answer any question residents may have.

Neil Henry, area director for Network Rail, said: “The bridge at Fall Lane will not only help improve the reliability of the railway but will also have a huge positive impact on the village of East Ardsley. We aim to be considerate neighbours to those living near the bridge while the work takes place and our project team are looking forward to meeting residents at the public information day.”

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: “We are very pleased to see this work now being carried which will restore Fall Lane Bridge for use by buses and delivery vehicles for local businesses. We would encourage as many people as possible to attend the public information event to find out all the details and we would ask for patience and understanding while the work is being undertaken.”

ENDS

Contact  

Toby Higgins

toby.higgins@networkrail.co.uk

Network Rail

01904 383180 / 07850 406724