A key part of TRU is the electrification of the entire 70-mile line between York, Leeds and Manchester to provide the power for cleaner, quieter electric trains.
To do this, Station Road bridge, which is built over the railway at Cross Gates railway station, needs to be reconstructed as it is currently too low to accommodate the overhead line equipment (OLE) which will be used to power electric trains on the route in the future.
From Monday 31 March until Tuesday 25 November 2025, the section of the southbound carriageway of Station Road across the railway bridge will be closed to enable reconstruction work to take place. One lane of the northbound carriageway will also be closed to enable work to take place within the central reservation and ensure worker safety.
Advance warning signage will be in place on roads prior to the closures, along with signposted diversions.
The Station Road bridge reconstruction follows work carried out over the Christmas period just 4km away in Osmondthorpe, where over one hundred engineers replaced an old bridge deck with a new, stronger structure that will enable tracks to be moved into a better position to allow faster, longer trains to run.
Lucy Grogan, Sponsor for TRU, said:
“Station Road bridge, which was originally built between 1830 and 1834, was widened in 1936 and again in 1953. This latest major upgrade in its life is crucial in enabling TRU to transform rail journeys by better connecting towns and cities across the North.
“We appreciate that this road closure will unfortunately cause inconvenience to the community, so we have worked closely with Leeds City Council to agree diversionary routes to help keep traffic moving, and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding. ”
Between Monday 17 February and Saturday 8 March 2025, early preparation work will take place, with utility services within the central reservation of the bridge being diverted. The road and footpaths will remain open at all times, but one lane in each direction will be closed to enable this early work to be safely carried out.
From Thursday 12 to Monday 16 June and Thursday 3 to Monday 7 July, the section of Station Road above the railway will need to be closed in both directions to allow the existing bridge to be demolished and the new bridge framework and deck to be installed. This will also involve weekend closures of the railway line, with train services being diverted or replaced by buses. The footway on the western side of the bridge will remain open during these works.
More information is available including diversion details and updates on the project’s progress at www.theTRUpgrade.co.uk/StationRoad
