Greek Street Roundabout to close from 31st March ahead of year of work

The Greek Street Roundabout across the West Coast Main Line in Stockport town centre is to close from 31st March for one year as Network Rail commence a £20 million replacement of the bridge across the railway line.

Work will see engineers demolish the existing bridge, built in 1958, and construct a new crossing over the railway, which is Europe’s busiest mixed-use route carrying both passengers and freight between Manchester and the South and Midlands of England. The new bridge is expected to have a lifespan of around 120 years, nearly twice as long as the current structure has lasted. Plans for the bridge will also futureproof the route to enable future expansion of the Metrolink tram network into the borough.

Over the next year, people in Stockport are advised to follow diversionary routes which will keep motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on the move during the work. Rail services are also set to be disrupted over Easter and during August as work is carried out.

Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said:

“We’re replacing the Greek Street bridge in Stockport to keep the railway below and road users above safe for years to come.

“We are very grateful for the cooperation of the local community during the work. I know that closing the roundabout for a year will disrupt the daily lives of the local community, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause.”

Alongside public information events with local residents, Network Rail has also worked with Stockport Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to establish safe and convenient diversionary routes during the major closure.

Cllr Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services at Stockport Council, said:

“This is a significant project to protect Europe’s busiest railway line that Stockport and its residents will benefit from on a daily basis once complete.

“While the year-long closure will bring challenges, the new bridge will ensure a safer and more reliable railway network for everyone.

“We’re working hard alongside Network Rail and TfGM to help keep Stockport moving, ensuring signed diversion routes will be in place to help ease the impact that this work will have on our communities.”

Danny Vaughan, chief network officer at TfGM, said:

“The bridge at Greek Street is almost 70 years old and has now reached the end of its life, meaning it needs to be replaced to ensure the safety of road and rail users for generations to come.

“We know this will cause disruption and are working closely with partners to minimise the impact while these essential works take place.

“The closure is now just a week away and we have confirmed diversion routes for buses that usually use Greek Street to help people plan their journeys. These diversions may change due to the nature and length of the works so I would urge everyone to keep themselves up to date by checking the Bee Network website or app before they travel.”

Over Easter 2025, work will take place to prepare the railway for the bridge’s replacement this summer. There will be changes to train services between 19-22 April 2025. Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before they travel. Some services will be diverted around Stockport, whilst others will be replaced with a bus.

Demolishing and rebuilding the 58-metre-wide bridge will be a complex process. Over Christmas 2024, engineers constructed a temporary bridge to reroute existing utility services such as water and electricity. Once the road is closed, the road layout will be removed carefully in a way that does not damage the bridge structure while the railway is in operation.

From 2 – 23 August 2025, the bridge, which is made of about 200 concrete beams, will be demolished and the new bridge will be installed.  Then, the team will redirect the utility services, waterproof the bridge, and reinstate the road to the highest standard.