Network Rail shares detail of works to deliver £16 million Greek Street Bridge replacement

Network Rail has shared details of disruption to road and rail links in Stockport as it undertakes the £16 million replacement of the Greek Street Bridge over the railway line.

Work will begin over Christmas and run through to Spring 2026 to demolish and replace the bridge over the West Coast Mainline. The bridge was originally constructed in 1958, but has now reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced. As well as making the bridge safer, the £16 million project will also ensure space for a possible future Metrolink route into the town centre.

Work on the site, which is also a major junction in the centre of Stockport will begin next year, with some preparation work required this Christmas on diverting the utilities connections that run under road.

Network Rail, supported by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, is hosting a drop-in information event on Tuesday 3 December, where the local community will find out more about the work.

The event is being held from 4pm to 7pm at Stockport’s Age UK hub in Edgeley, which is located next to the bridge. Members of Network Rail’s project team, the council’s Sustainable Transport and Highways team, and the construction contractor, Murphy, will be in attendance.

William Brandon, Network Rail project manager said:

“We’re inviting people to find out more about the essential work to replace the Greek Street bridge, as part of our commitment to keep the Stockport community informed during our project.

“This work is extremely complex. Its construction and its impact on the people of Stockport is being carefully planned.

“We understand the essential work will cause significant disruption to the local area. We don’t yet have all of the answers about public transport alternatives during the project, but we want to make sure the community is brought along on the journey from the earliest stage possible. A timeline for when to expect more detailed information about alternative travel will be available at the event.”

Cllr Grace Baynham, cabinet member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services at Stockport Council, said:

“This will be the first in a series of engagement events that will take place in the run up to the work starting and is a great opportunity for residents to hear more about this landmark project.

“Greek Street is a major route in and out of our town centre and it is essential that these works to replace the bridge below the roundabout are carried out, especially as the bridge is designed in a way that will assist our future plans to bring the Metrolink to Stockport.”

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

From March 2025, the Greek Street roundabout and part of the nearby roads nearby will close for about a year as the main work begins, with diversionary routes currently being planned. Rail closures are required during Easter, summer, and autumn 2025 to allow engineers to safely carry out the work, including a 21-day closure in August 2025. During this closure, 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. 

The event on 3rd December is the first in a series of regular drop-ins the community will be welcomed to throughout the project. Nearby residents in Edgeley have also been written to directly to find out more about the event.