OREANDA-NEWS. Residents in Chester are invited to a drop-in event to learn more about essential upgrade work to a railway bridge which is needed to improve the reliability of the railway through the city.

Network Rail will replace the existing bridge on Brook Lane with a new one which will require less future maintenance. The work forms part of the nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan, helping provide passengers with a better, more reliable railway.

The bridge will be replaced between Monday, 12 September 2016 and Friday, 9 June 2017. During the work local traffic will be affected but clearly-signed diversions, agreed with the local authority will be in place.

The drop-in event will take place at the beginning of the work on Monday, 12 September between 4pm and 7pm at Live New Scene youth centre, Limwood Close, Newton Lane, Chester CH2 2HH. Representatives from Network Rail and the main contractor carrying out the work will be on hand to answer questions the public may have.

Martin Bell, scheme project manager from Network Rail, said: “This work is part of our Railway Upgrade Plan which will provide a better and more reliable railway for Britain. We recognise the work to install this new bridge will cause some disruption and thank people in advance for their patience. The bridge is coming to the end of its useful, safe life and to ensure the railway and road bridge continue to be safe and reliable, we have to replace it.”

Residents who would like additional information on the work can call Network Rail’s 24-hour helpline on 03457 114141.

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain's railway - the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.