M6 reopens early after successful installation of Clifton railway bridge improving West Coast Main Line

Credit: Network Rail

The M6 through Cumbria reopened 13 hours earlier than planned following the successful installation of a 4,200-tonne railway bridge over the motorway this weekend.

Clifton railway bridge near Penrith has been replaced by Network Rail and principal contractor Skanska as part of a £60 million investment to future-proof the West Coast Main Line. Yesterday, 10 January, the new 130-metre-long structure was carefully manoeuvred into place with millimetre precision. Time-lapse footage shows the pre-built bridge, previously staged off-site, being driven into position by specialist machines with more than 600 wheels.

Two unprecedented 60-hour closures of the M6 between junctions 39 and 40 were scheduled over consecutive weekends to allow the work to take place. Despite sub-zero temperatures and poor weather, the motorway reopened shortly before 4pm on Sunday 11 January, 13 hours ahead of schedule, allowing diversion routes to be lifted earlier than planned. Both carriageways had also reopened 70 minutes early the previous weekend.

Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “It’s a testament to the hard work of hundreds of people that we’ve been able to install this huge new structure both successfully and speedily. We’ve been in close contact with National Highways so we could capitalise on that and get the M6 reopened over half a day ahead of schedule to alleviate pressure on local roads. I’d like to once again thank drivers for adhering to the road diversions, and also thank the local communities impacted by them this weekend, so we could carry out this vital work to secure journeys for both road and rail users in the future.”

Steve Mason, National Highways programme delivery manager, added: “This was an incredibly complex operation and reopening the M6 13 hours early is a tremendous achievement. Despite severe weather conditions, the teams involved worked tirelessly to deliver this vital, one-in-a-lifetime project to future-proof one of the most important railway lines in the country.”

Rosario Barcena, Skanska UK rail programme director, said: “It’s been achieved thanks to our whole team, including our amazing supply chain partners. They’ve worked tirelessly across the weekend to successfully install the new Clifton railway bridge, a hugely complex and precise operation, and now re-open the motorway.”

With the bridge installation nearly complete, railway teams will begin installing track, reconnecting overhead power lines, and restoring signalling systems. The line between Oxenholme and Carlisle remains closed until 5am on Thursday 15 January. This project forms part of a £200 million investment along the West Coast Main Line over the festive season, contributing to a larger four-year programme totalling £400 million.