Yorkshire railway bridge to be replaced in £5m project

£5m is to be spent replacing a railway bridge in Wakefield over the Christmas period. The bridge carries the line between Doncaster and Leeds over Agbrigg Road next to Sandal and Agbrigg station, but will be replaced by a new structure. Network Rail says that the structure’s main steel girders are substandard, meaning a weight restriction and close monitoring are in place. The bridge will also be able to withstand strikes from road vehicles better. Preparatory work is being completed, and the bridge is being constructed in a work compound near the station. The replacement will take place when no trains are running, from the early hours of Christmas Eve to 8am on Sunday 27 December. Traffic lights will be in use for road users from the 8th November, with Saturday night road closures in place from the 14th November. Agbrigg Road will be closed when the replacement work is ongoing. “We’re sorry to residents who will be impacted by this vital work over the festive period. Christmas provides a unique opportunity for our teams to access the track and complete the work in a much shorter time than would otherwise be possible. Sean Ellerby, Network Rail portfolio manager