Major components for the new Greek Street railway bridge and roundabout in Stockport are currently being transported from Ireland, marking the final preparations for a significant construction phase.

Network Rail and its contractor Murphy are gearing up for a 21-day period, from Saturday, 2 August, until the morning of Saturday, 23 August, during which the existing Greek Street bridge will be dismantled and rebuilt.

This critical project necessitates a rare 21-day closure of a 50-mile stretch of the West Coast Main Line, impacting rail services across Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester.

Ahead of the full railway closure, footage released today, Tuesday, 29 July, showcases the manufacturing and rigorous trial assembly of the bridge components at a large site in Ireland. This 'dress rehearsal' process, which included drone footage of a specially sequenced trial assembly, was crucial for optimising the installation methodology.

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With trials complete, the bridge components are now being transported on 40 lorries and low-loaders, travelling by ferry from Dublin to Liverpool, and then by road to Greater Manchester. Some sections are being stored near Trafford Park, while others will be delivered directly to the site in special convoys for immediate craning into position.

William Brandon, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: "After years of planning we're excited that this weekend all our preparations will be put into action, so we can successfully rebuild Greek Street railway bridge and improve both the road and rail network for the future for both road users and passengers."

Paul Williams, Murphy senior engineering manager, noted: "Completing the construction 'dress rehearsal' enabled us to fully test our installation methodology prior to installing the new Greek Street bridge for real. As a result of this test, we changed the sequence in which we'll crane the sections into position in order to maximise the efficiency of our works during the closure."

In addition to the £20 million investment for Greek Street, Network Rail will utilise this rare railway closure to carry out an additional £23 million of improvements to the West Coast Main Line between Stafford and Stockport. This extensive work will result in significant changes to journeys, making advanced planning essential.

During a recent visit to the manufacturing facility, Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd in Westmeath in Ireland, Network Rail engineers also observed the construction of the street-facing sides of the bridge, including a replica of the admired Edgeley Station mosaic.

Once the new railway bridge is in place and the West Coast Main Line reopens, work will then shift to the reconstruction of Greek Street roundabout and the relaying of surrounding roads.