Work to start on £22m rail bridge over M62

Beams were carried into the work site in preparation of the major bridge works

Passengers and motorists have been warned to expect travel disruption in September as works begin on a £22m railway bridge on the route between Manchester and Leeds.

Network Rail will begin work on the 2,000 tonne bridge which crosses the M62 in Castleton, near Rochdale, on 6 September, which will see it closed for the first time in its history over two weekends.

The 138ft (42m) long bridge over the motorway is used by trains travelling from West Yorkshire to Greater Manchester.

Network Rail said the work was "crucial" to the UK economy and energy supply.

The rail operator said the structure, which is known as Castleton Bridge and was originally built in 1969, was an important part of about 6% of the UK’s energy supply, as freight trains cross it as they carry biomass material to and from Drax power station in Selby, North Yorkshire.

Closures will be in effect on the eastbound carriageway between J18 and J20 and the westbound carriageway between J19 and J20 from 21:00 BST to 06:00 BST on 6 September to 9 September - and over the same timeframe from 20 September to 23 September.

Motorists have been advised to avoid that section of the M62 during the two weekends by delaying journeys or planning alternative routes.

Nightly closures will also be in operation from 9 September to 20 September from 21:00 BST to 06:00 BST.

The work will mean the railway will be closed between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale from 6 September until 25 September and rail replacement buses will be in operation for passengers.

The railway bridge will close for the first time in its history

Network Rail said it was working with National Highways and Transport for Greater Manchester on the project.

It said two 140ft (42m) steel beams, each weighing 70 tonnes, were delivered to the work site during an overnight closure of the M62 in July.

The beams travelled more than 200 miles by land and sea and were convoyed safely with a police escort to the motorway site where the bridge will be built in situ ahead of its installation.

During the first road closure, engineers will dismantle the old bridge and take it away before the new bridge is installed during the second weekend.