ONE of the main roads in Blackrod will be closed for more than four months next year because of major work to electrify train lines.

From May, 2014, Station Road will be closed for 18 weeks as Network Rail begin work to rebuild a bridge across the road.

Drivers will be expected to use Blackrod’s Grimeford Lane instead — and this road will be closed for similar work in 2015.

Another road that will suffer serious disruption because of the work is Lostock Lane in Lostock — which will be shut for 14 weeks between May and September, 2014.

The electrification of the railways, which Network Rail say will boost the economy and provide passengers with quicker, cleaner and more frequent services, means that several railway bridges need to be rebuilt in order to provide sufficient clearance for the overhead lines.

The old bridges will be rebuilt as flat deck highway bridges.

The work is part of a £400 million programme in the North West.

Stephen Pickup, ward councillor for Horwich and Blackrod, said that although the work is bound to cause significant disruption it is being done “for the greater good”.

He added: “It will be difficult for people living in these areas but in the end they will be able to use a much more reliable train service. It is being done over the summer to try and cause as little disruption as possible.”

A spokesperson for Network Rail said they are discussing details with local authorities in a bid to keep disruption to a minimum.

A statement read: “As part of this major investment programme across the North West, we need to rebuild a number of bridges in the Bolton area to provide sufficient clearance for the overhead line equipment that will electrify the line.

“The first work is likely to get under way in May, 2014.”Blackrod town councillor Graham Farrington said that although the work needs to be done it will cause “terrible inconvenience”.

He added: “Traffic is already an issue in that area — so it is going to get a lot worse.

“I am also disappointed that while they are rebuilding the bridge in Station Road they are not planning to make it wider, because at present it is too narrow and vehicles struggle to get past in both lanes.”