MOTORISTS are being warned to expect disruption when a busy road closes to allow a huge viaduct to be strengthened for new railway track to be laid.
Details of the next stage of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) have been announced by project bosses, with a major road between Huddersfield town centre and Bradford set to be affected by the latest works.
It has emerged that the A641 Bradford Road/Northgate in Huddersfield will be closed for two weekends at the start of June.
It will be shut to vehicles and pedestrians from 23:45 on Friday, May 31 to 05:00 on Monday, June 3, and from 23:45 on Friday, June 7 to 05:00 on Sunday, June 9.
During these weekends, work will be undertaken to strengthen Huddersfield viaduct, in advance of new track being built over the structure.
The road closures provide access for the team to complete ground excavations and concrete pouring work, as part of the reinforcements.
Signposted diversions will be established along the A641 with clear directions of the best route to take.
Gareth Hope, Sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “We appreciate that closing roads such as the A641 causes a great deal of inconvenience in the local area, so I’d like to thank the community in Huddersfield for their patience and understanding while this work takes place.
“To minimise disruption and keep the closure as brief as possible, our team will be working around the clock throughout the day and night to complete these rail upgrades.
"The work will ultimately contribute to providing an improved railway service and an upgraded station to rail users in Huddersfield.”
As part of the TRU, Huddersfield station is being remodelled to enable faster, longer and more frequent trains to run along the route between Manchester, Leeds and York.
This involves reconstructing the platform layout, increasing the number of tracks from three to four and installing a new, accessible footbridge with lifts.
A spokesperson for the TRU said: "Strong progress has been made on site in recent weeks, with mining mitigation work completed in the area and work starting on the station’s iconic roof canopy, which is being repaired and restored as part of the improvements."
Train services will be affected between Huddersfield – Dewsbury – Leeds from Mondays to Fridays (24 hour working), from Monday, June 24 to Friday, July 19.
TransPennine Express disruption:
- Services between Huddersfield – Leeds will be diverted and will not run through Dewsbury.
- Rail replacement bus services will replace services between Huddersfield – Dewsbury – Leeds.
- Services from Hull will start/terminate at Leeds.
- Services from Saltburn to Manchester Airport will start/terminate at Manchester Victoria.
- Rail replacement buses will operate between Huddersfield – Manchester Airport via StockportNorthern disruption:
- Services between Leeds – Wigan via Brighouse will be diverted and will not run through Dewsbury.
- Rail replacement bus services will run between Halifax – Brighouse – Dewsbury – Leeds
Services between Marsden – Huddersfield – Mirfield will also be affected on Saturdays and Sundays over the following weekends. Northern and TPE will be running to amended timetables so passengers are advised to check before they travel:
• 18-19 May
• 25-26 May
• 1-2 June
• 8-9 June
• 15-16 June
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