The project involves demolishing the existing bridge, located next to Sandal & Agbrigg station, and installing a new structure during the Christmas period. The current bridge has become structurally substandard, necessitating a weight restriction and close monitoring.
The replacement will remove these restrictions, providing a stronger, more reliable bridge with a 120-year design life. It will also be better equipped to withstand vehicle strikes, reducing potential disruption to both rail services and Agbrigg Road.
Preparatory work is underway, with the new bridge being constructed off-site. The main replacement activity will occur between the early hours of Christmas Eve and 8am on Sunday 27 December, a period when no trains are scheduled to run. This will involve removing tracks and ballast before a 50-tonne excavator demolishes the old structure. The new bridge deck will be installed in two sections, followed by waterproofing, drainage, and the reinstatement of the railway.
“"We’re sorry to residents who will be impacted by this vital work over the festive period. Christmas provides a unique opportunity for our teams to access the track and complete the work in a much shorter time than would otherwise be possible. We’re investing almost £5 million on the new bridge to help us maintain a safe, reliable railway and avoid future disruption. We’d like to thank residents and road users for their patience while this work takes place."
Temporary traffic lights on Agbrigg Road will be in place from 8 November, with Saturday night road closures starting on 14 November. The road will be fully closed during the Christmas bridge replacement, with diversions agreed with Wakefield Council. Some parking spaces will also be suspended to facilitate traffic management and access for construction vehicles.
The wider construction programme is set to conclude in February 2027, after which associated highways work, utility reinstatement, and the removal of the temporary site compound will be completed.
