The raising of Deep Pit Bridge in the north west of England is part of a project to electrify the Wigan to Bolton line. Road and foot bridges along the line are being raised so that 25,000v electric cables can be installed above the track.
Deep Pit Bridge, an 1887 pedestrian over bridge, will also get a pair of ramps to make it step-free. It was made from a design by Augustus Topp by the Walker brothers in wrought and cast iron with engineering brick piers.
The historic iron Deep Pit Bridge that will be raised as part of a rail electrification project. Credit: Network Rail
The bridge recently acquired a Grade II listed status from the public heritage body Historic England. This means that the bridge is considered to be of special architectural and historic interest. The listing brings the bridge under planning laws so that it can be protected for future generations.
Network Rail, which owns the UK’s rail infrastructure, is running the electrification project, which aims to bring cleaner, quieter trains to the region.