BLACKROD residents have been invited to a meeting regarding an upcoming bridge closure in the village.

Network Rail is hosting the information event at Blackrod Church School in Vicarage Road West on Wednesday January 14.

The drop-in session, which will take place between 4pm and 7pm is designed to advise the public of the upcoming bridge works required at Station Road, which are being carried out ahead of the electrification of the railway line between Manchester and Preston, via Bolton in 2016.

The road over the rail bridge in Station Road needs to be rebuilt in order to provide clearance for the overhead line equipment which will be installed underneath the bridge.

This work will mean that Station Road will be closed to the public for just over three months, from February 2 until May 15.

During the closure Network Rail insist that pedestrian access will be maintained using the existing footbridge and that a diversion route, which has been agreed with the council, will be in place and properly signposted.

But the information event is bound to hear a great number of concerns from local residents who are worried that this lengthy closure has been timed to take place during the same period as another closure in neighbouring Adlington.

Network Rail are planning to rebuild a bridge in Grimeford Lane, which connects to Station Road, leaving the route out of action from March 6 until June 111, meaning that both busy routes could be closed to the public for a period of about two months.

Ward councillors have expressed concern over the potential road chaos that could arrive, Cllr Ann Cunliffe, who represents Horwich and Blackrod said: “There are no realistic diversions to accommodate the impact of these two Blackrod road closures.

“Besides being a nightmare for motorists, parents use Station Road to take their children to school — they will find it extremely difficult to get their children to school on time.”

“I feel that Network Rail have not taken into account any of the problems that will be faced by local residents, businesses or road users and I think they could and should have found a way to reschedule their programme of works to build these bridges separately.”

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Our work will create a cleaner, faster and more reliable railway for passengers with much needed additional capacity,"

Adding: “We have worked closely with Bolton Council to minimise the length of the closures and any inevitable overlap.”