We are carrying out essential work to secure the future of the High Peak’s railway link.
What’s going on?
Network Rail is investing £5.1m to replace a Grade II listed bridge which takes the railway over Buxton Road in Whaley Bridge, High Peak.
The bridge, which was built in 1863, needs to be replaced to keep rail passengers and the Whaley Bridge community safe for years to come.
Despite regular maintenance over the years, the bridge now needs to be significantly strengthened and undergo a major upgrade.
Without the work taking place there’s a real risk a bridge bash by a high vehicle could stop trains above for many months, completely cutting off Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes and Buxton from the railway network.
Work to replace the bridge begins on 4 January and will be completed in April 2023.
How will the work impact me?
So engineers can replace the bridge safely, it is proposed that Buxton Road will need to be closed:
- From 16 January – 31 March 2023, the road will be fully closed to traffic.
- From 16 February – 5 March 2023, there will be no pedestrian access under the bridge.
From 18 February – 28 February 2023, there will be no railway services between Hazel Grove and Buxton, passengers are advised to checkNational Railbefore travelling.
We are pleased to tell you that the length of the pedestrian diversion under the bridge on Buxton Road has been reduced by 12 days.
This means that the pedestrian route for school children will only be diverted for seven school days once half term and weekends are considered.
We will improve the temporary pedestrian diversion route through Whaley Bridge Memorial Park with lighting, barriers, and better paths.
Public transport changes
We are working with Derbyshire County Council and local bus companies on diversionary routes for public transport. Please check with operators for information on specific services.
Downloads
Frequently asked questions
The team will preserve around one third of the original structure and replace the rest of the bridge in keeping with its original design.<\/p>\n"},{"is_icon":false,"icon":"","title":"Why does the road need to be fully closed?","description":"
To carry out this work safely, we need to close the part of the road underneath the bridge.<\/p>\n"},{"is_icon":false,"icon":"","title":"Why is the work being carried out in winter?","description":"
To rebuild the bridge, we need to close the railway as well as the road. We discussed the requirement with local councils, train operators and freight operators to find a time of the year that was most suitable for everyone, whilst also making sure our contractors and machinery were available. It was agreed that February half term is the least disruptive time for the railway and road closure.<\/p>\n
There are also key events in the community that it was important to keep the road open for during the summer holidays such as Buxton carnival, Whaley Bridge carnival, Y-Not festival, and Eat in the Park festival.<\/p>\n
Because of the condition of the bridge, we really need to carry out the work as soon as is practicable. Should we need to reschedule the work until summer, we would \u2018lose\u2019 at least two other bridge jobs elsewhere. This could cause severe knock-on effects in how we can deliver future work.<\/p>\n"},{"is_icon":false,"icon":"","title":"What is the pedestrian diversion between 16 February and 5 March?","description":"
We recommend pedestrians use Whaley Bridge Memorial Park during the complete road closure.<\/p>\n
We will be providing extra lighting through the park to make sure you feel safe using the diversion.<\/p>\n
We will also prepare the walkway and maintain its condition during the pedestrian road closure.<\/p>\n
The diversion route is flat and accessible for wheelchair use. We will make sure that the path is gritted during any wintry weather.<\/p>\n"},{"is_icon":false,"icon":"","title":"What is the plan for school buses?","description":"
Derbyshire County Council has written to the home addresses of all school children in the area to explain the alternative school bus arrangements during this work.<\/p>\n"},{"is_icon":false,"icon":"","title":"Will you be compensating for loss of earnings for local businesses?","description":"
We’re very sorry but we are not able to offer any compensation for loss of earnings as a result of this work. Though the road will be closed under the bridge, all businesses will still be accessible via a diversion. We completely understand the frustrations the road closure may cause local business owners.<\/p>\n
As a taxpayer funded organisation, we are unable to provide financial incentives during our work.<\/p>\n"}]" :key="i" :i="i" :title="item.title" :icon-name="item.icon" :description="item.description" :is-expanded="slotProps.activeItem === i ? true : false" @expand="slotProps.handleExpand">
Contact us
If you have any questions, please call 03457 114141 or visit ourContact us page. Our national helpline will direct your query to the project team who will respond to you as soon as possible.
We must use this helpline process to make sure we are looking after your data properly and we are able to keep an accurate record of communication with the local community.