160 year old bridge in London to be removed over Christmas

Multiple engineering works are being carried out across the festive period. One of these projects will be the replacement of the 160-year-old Selhurst railway bridge. The large-scale project will help ensure that the railway remains safe and reliable, as this work will reduce the amount of future maintenance disruptions. Engineers will be using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) to remove the current bridge and install the new one. They are using the SPMTs as the underground utility pipes prevent the use of conventional heavy-lift cranes, which also results in a longer closure. The work does mean that Selhurst Road will be closed to both vehicles and pedestrians from 8 am in the 12th December until 5 pm on the 10th January. Passengers should be advised that Selhurst station will remain open, but it is essential that journeys are planned ahead over the festive period. Some alterations will be announced closer to the time, such as when Crystal Palace are playing at home. “We have carried out multiple repairs to the Selhurst Road railway bridge, but it has now reached the end of its serviceable life and needs to be replaced. We will assemble the new bridge on site and then move it into place between 27 December and 2 January. “We recognise the impact the works will have on residents, businesses, road users and our customers and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Wherever possible, we will minimise noise and disturbance and will provide advance notice of particularly disruptive activities. “I would like to apologise to local residents and businesses for the disruption caused by this closure but we really do need to do this work at a time of year when we will cause the least inconvenience to people, especially as there are fewer people travelling to work during the holiday season.” Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex Route Director for Network Rail