Network Rail has announced that road closures near Kirk Hill bridge were lifted as planned on Friday 17 July as it continues to make progress in reconstructing the bridge.

While it rebuilt the bridge, which is located near Sutton Bonington in Nottinghamshire, Network Rail had to order the closure of several nearby roads.

The reconstructed bridge will provide clearance for larger‑gauge freight trains, which will allow more freight to be carried on the railway, which will help to relieve road congestion and reduce harmful carbon emissions. It will also create better access for rail maintenance, which will enable workers to carry out the repairs and improvements needed to remove a long‑standing speed restriction.

The project to reconstruct the bridge was initiated as part of the Midland Main Line electrification programme. Since then, electrification has been paused, but the Department for Transport allowed the bridge reconstruction project to continue, due to its wider benefits.

Workers demolished the bridge over Christmas last year. Since then, they have carried out further work overnight and at weekends, minimising disruption.

The project is scheduled to be completed in September, after the work has been demobilised and the site reinstated.

“The project at Kirk Hill bridge was planned to minimise disruption for passengers as much as possible while we delivered this important structural upgrade. However we recognise that there has been some unavoidable disruption for residents and businesses because of the road closures, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience caused.

“We’ve worked with the council to mitigate this as much as we could, and we’ve remained in close contact with the community. Feedback from our regular meetings with the community was taken on board from the beginning.

“We’re pleased to have reached another important milestone with the removal of road restrictions and we thank everyone for their patience as we complete the last of our tasks – taking down our compound and reinstating the site.”

Nick Wilton, Network Rail senior sponsor