As part of ongoing works of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, and works around Ravensthorpe station, the Calder Road bridge will be closed for a full weekend from 7 pm on Friday, 16 May to 6 am on Monday, 19 May.

Work on the Calder Road bridge has already seen the construction of new wing walls and abutments. During the weekend closure, 20 pre-cast concrete pillars with a combined weight of 106 tonnes will be installed to support a future new road deck and layout on the bridge.

The work to be undertaken will offer greater capacity at the new Ravensthorpe station, which is being built 200 metres along the line.

This station will have island platforms to allow for the longer trains that will be running along the Transpennine route. There will also be step-free access and a new station forecourt.

As part of other works in the area known as the Ravensthorpe Triangle, a new flyover in the form of a viaduct will enable fast trains to overtake local services, offering quicker journeys across the Transpennine route.

Throughout the bridge closure, the access road to the current Ravensthorpe station will also be closed to road vehicles.

The road will shut after the last train has departed the station on Friday evening and will reopen before the first train on Monday morning. The road will remain open to pedestrians throughout the weekend.

To ease local road congestion, Thornhill Road and Fall Lane will reopen for these two days while these works take place; they will close once again on Monday, 19 May, for their utility works to resume.

“We appreciate there is no ideal time to close a road, so would like to thank the local community in advance for their patience as we complete vital work that will support better rail travel throughout the area and beyond. 

“Advance warning signage will be in place on roads, along with signposted diversion routes with clear directions of alternative routes to take, whilst road users can also visit roadworks.org for further details.” 

Andrew Campbell, Sponsor for TRU,