MOTORISTS could be faced with travel disruption next weekend when a key route is closed to allow urgent bridge repairs to take place.

Network Rail will be carrying out essential maintenance work on the Bromley Cross railway bridge for three days from Friday July 22.

This will result in the full closure of Turton Road where it runs beneath the bridge for the entirety of the weekend.

The bridge meets at the junction of Turton Road, Chapeltown Road and Darwen Road.

A spokesman for Network Rail explained: “The Bromley Cross railway bridge will be closed for three days from July 22.

“This is for specialist stonemasonry work to be carried out to repair the soffit stone and secure the stonework to prevent the bricks moving out of place which has happened over time.”

The road closures will be in place 24-hours-a-day over the weekend, although the work itself will only be carried out in daylight hours.

Diversions will be in place and signposted — with vehicles being instructed to travel via Turton Road, Tonge Moor Road, Crompton Way, Blackburn Road and Darwen Road.

It is hoped that the work will be completed over the weekend and that the section of road can reopen on either Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
Bromley Cross Cllr David Greenhalgh said that while the closures were bound to cause disruption for local people — he has been assured that the work must take place for safety reasons.

He said: “This is a request that has come from Network Rail and I understand it is an urgent requirement that this major work takes place at the bridge.

“Thankfully, the local Turton School will be closed for the summer and that should help the situation.”

He added: “I appreciate people will be disrupted and I would ask them to be patient because this needs to be done.”

Bolton News readers have been reacting to news of the planned closure, with Julian Ferry commenting on Facebook: “It will be a nightmare going through Abbey Village instead to get home from Blackburn” and Leanne Wolfenden adding: “Now I will have to go down Crompton Way or the motorway!”