A structure believed to be the earliest cast-iron bridge over a working railway will be raised as part of an improvement programme in northern England.
The UK government recently approved an order allowing the Transpennine Route Upgrade project to work on a section of the railway where the historic structure is located. The work planned between Leeds and Micklefield includes electrification of the line and replacing five level crossings.
Artist’s impression of the raised Crawshaw Woods Bridge. Credit: Transpennine Route Upgrade
Crawshaw Woods Bridge will be raised to make room for overhead wires to electrify the railway. The cast-iron, single-span segmental arched bridge, which was built between 1830 and 1834, is protected by a Grade II Historic England listing. Historic England records that the present deck is structurally independent of the cast-iron span.
