A major road has reopened after the work to install a new railway bridge was completed.
County Road in Kirkby has been closed to vehicles during the school summer holidays to allow Network Rail to install the track as part of the £80m project. Network Rail closed the road between St Kevins Drive and Headbolt Lane while engineers replaced the existing bridge over County Road.
The road, which remained accessible for pedestrians and cyclists while the work was completed, reopened to traffic on August 30. The new bridge forms part of the Headbolt Lane station scheme and will enable the track improvements between the new station and the existing Kirkby station.
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Construction on the scheme began in January this year and is expected to open to passengers in summer 2023. The project is being delivered via a partnership between Network Rail, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Knowsley Council.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “We’re incredible grateful for the patience shown by residents while these works were carried out to install the new rail bridge on County Road. The new bridge will help us deliver the station at Headbolt Lane and connect residents in the area to the local rail network for the first time, opening up opportunities to travel for education, work and leisure.
“This is another step on our journey towards Mayor Steve Rotheram ’s ambition of building a London-style transport system for our region, making getting around as quick, cheap, clean and reliable wherever you live.”
Northern Rail services from Manchester and Wigan will operate to and from the new three-platform station which is also designed to support any future plans to build a rail link to Skelmersdale. The full plans will see a new station building, a double-track railway bridge over County Road, a car park and a new station access road.
It will also be the first new station opened since Mayor Rotheram unveiled Merseyrail For All - his proposals to expand the local train network through a combination of brand new stations in undeserved parts of the region and by utilising battery technology on the region's new publicly-owned trains.
Councillor Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “The progress being made on Headbolt Lane is very encouraging and I know residents are excited at the prospect of a new station opening next year. It is something Kirkby residents have wanted for a long time. It will improve transport options for residents in the Tower Hill and Northwood areas, providing improved access to employment, including Knowsley Business Park, and education opportunities.”
Philippa Britton, Principal Programme Sponsor at Network Rail, said: “While work to build a new station at Headbolt Lane is ongoing, we are delighted to have installed a new railway bridge that enables the line from Kirkby to extend to the new Headbolt Lane station, helping transform the Merseyrail network.
“We recognise this important bridge work has caused some disruption in the local area. We are very grateful to residents and commuters for their patience and understand during this time.”
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