Drone photos show M62 railway bridge being demolished ahead of second weekend closure

A section of the M62 motorway near Rochdale, Greater Manchester, will be closed again while a new bridge is installed following the demolition of a previous one.

(SWNS)
The 2,000-tonne Castleton bridge near Rochdale was destroyed. (SWNS)

Drivers on the M62 are facing more delays as a second weekend closure begins at 9pm on Friday (20 September), lasting all weekend.

The closure, which lasts until 6am on Monday (23 September), will take place for a new bridge to be installed near Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

It comes after tens of thousands of drivers were affected in a previous closure earlier this month as Network Rail dismantled and removed the 60-year-old Castleton bridge.

The bridge had carried trains between Manchester and Rochdale over the motorway, including freight services going to and from Drax power station near Selby, North Yorkshire.

Amazing pictures showed staff working to demolish the 42m-long bridge, with 11 excavator vehicles used to take down the structure with their 14-tonne hydraulic hammers and jaws.

(SWNS)
Workers demolished Castleton bridge over the M62 at the weekend. (SWNS)
(SWNS)
The journeys of tens of thousands of driver were disrupted by the works at the weekend. (SWNS)

About 150,000 vehicles use the motorway each day, but it has been left deserted during the closures.

William Brandon, Network Rail project manager, previously said: “I’d like to thank passengers and drivers for their patience as we rebuild Castleton bridge.

“It is essential that we replace this ageing bridge for the safety of rail and road users, but I am sorry for the significant disruption the work will cause.”

A new replacement bridge will be installed later in September. (National Highways)
A new replacement bridge will be installed later in September. (National Highways)
(SWNS)
Construction teams work to pull down a bridge over the M62 motorway. (SWNS)

There have also been nightly closures of the M62 between junctions 19 and 20 from 9pm to 6am to allow engineers to work on the bridge supports.

Motorway users have been asked to check traffic conditions before setting off while the works are continuing.

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