A project between Network Rail and a local community in rural Lancashire has seen a disliked rail bridge get a colourful makeover
Meadow Lane bridge in Croston has undergone a revamp after its unpopular upgrade three years ago and now features a rural-inspired mural. The bridge was upgraded as the previous 60-year-old concrete and open steel railed bridge had become life-expired and did not meet modern safety standards.
In 2018 the bridge was replaced with a brand new, strong steel bridge which made crossing the railway safer for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians but was not well received by the local community.
It came to light that a good number of people felt that the bridges enclosed shiny steel sides also known as parapets, did not fit into the rural landscape and saw a community campaign launched to see the new bridge replaced. As the new bridge did meet modern railway standards and was installed costing millions of pounds funded by the taxpayer, a full rebuild was not viable.
Once the news came that the bridge would not be replaced an unknown party wrapped the new bridge using vinyl graphics however it was not applied correctly and soon became unsightly as it began to peel also posting a risk to the safe running of the railway below and road users.
Network Rail has collaborated with the local action group since 2019 in order to reach a solution and in order for the community to have their say on how the bridge can fit better within the village. This summer a plan was formed to paint a design created by the local campaigners onto the metal bridge parapets creating a canvas for a wonderful piece of public art that the community of Croston can feel proud of.
Helena Williams, Network Rail project manager, said: “While we have a duty to ensure the railway is safe and reliable for road and rail users, we've learned a valuable lesson that our infrastructure matters to local people and the area they live in.
“We'd like to thank the local action group and people in Croston for their patience, cooperation and ingenuity to create a new feature for their beautiful village which can enjoyed for years to come.”
Kath Almond, chair of the local action group, said: “Meadow Lane Bridge is the entrance to our village from open countryside. The industrial look of the steel parapets was hideous compared to the railings we had previously. Despite our outcry, Network Rail was adamant it could not be changed due to cost. They did, however, offer to paint it a solid colour. Then some sympathetic person, put a vinyl ‘wrap' on it, depicting the countryside view we had lost.
“Our action group decided this was what we wanted, and after long discussions, Network Rail agreed. The result is the steel bridge appears to have disappeared into the sky, and the countryside has come back. We still miss our railings, but now we have a feature, which will amuse people for many years to come.”
Network Rail runs an ongoing programme of work to both renew and maintain rail infrastructure throughout Britain. Improvements for bridges in cities, towns and villages make sure that both passenger and freight trains can run reliably whilst protecting road users and pedestrians using the roads which cross the network.
