Leamington Spa railway bridge replacement works complete

Work to replace a 118-year-old railway bridge has been completed.

The replacement of the bridge, over the A445, was part of a £2.4m investment designed to improve journeys from Nuneaton to Leamington Spa.

The huge structure was seen being driven through Leamington Spa on Friday.

Work took place over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, with rail journeys resuming on the line on Tuesday.

The bridge, on Rugby Road, needed to be replaced, Network Rail said, because its condition limited trains passing over it to 20mph (32 km/h).

The works included the removal of the old bridge, which weighed 372 tonnes, installation of the new 60-tonne bridge, 800 tonnes of railway foundation stone being laid on the new bridge and tracks being reinstated.

The works were completed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend

Paul Randall, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: "I'm hugely proud of the team who gave up their Easter bank holiday to carry out this major work to improve railway journeys through Leamington Spa.

"Driving bridges down residential streets is no mean feat and our meticulous planning over many months meant that everything went well in time for trains to run again this morning.

"I'd like to thank local people for their patience and understanding while we worked day and night to replace Rugby Road railway bridge and for the work we've still got to do to finish the job."

Engineers will continue to work over the coming weeks, including building up the walls by the side of the new bridge on the railway embankment, which will require some lane closures on the A445.

Work to the railway foundation stones will also be completed overnight.

Work is also ongoing on a £2m redevelopment of Leamington Spa station forecourt, ahead of thousands of Commonwealth Games visitors expected in July.