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.
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.
Read more: A key section of the M62 will be closed from Friday night to Monday morning this weekend... again (Manchester Evening News)
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.”
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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