Victorian viaduct restored in £1.2m revamp

Wheatley Viaduct has stood over Halifax for 130 years

A Victorian viaduct in Halifax has been restored in a £1.2m renovation scheme.

Wheatley Viaduct, which has stood over the town for 130 years, has had its brickwork repaired and a waterproofing system installed.

National Highways' Historical Railways Estate (HRE) said the structure had deteriorated over time and vandals had caused damage.

It has been closed to the public since the 1960s for safety reasons.

Built for the Halifax High Level Railway, the Wheatley Viaduct measures around 600ft (183m) long and stands more than 100ft (30m) tall.

It was mainly used to transport coal, with the last goods train running in 1960.

HRE engineer Muhammad Musa said the viaduct was an "important physical reminder" of Halifax's railway history.

"Following one of our regular examinations it was clear the viaduct had numerous issues and our contractors have worked flat out since the end of last year to ensure it remains safe and in good order for generations to come," he said.

Engineer Muhammad Musa said contractors had worked "flat out" to restore the viaduct

Dave Martin, from contractor AmcoGiffen, said more than 2,000m (6,560ft) of repointing had been completed.

About 100m (328ft) of fractures had been repaired and more than 200 anchors had been installed.

"The viaduct is a big part of the local skyline so we’re proud that we’ve been able to secure its future for everyone to enjoy," he said.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.