Harborough Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O’Brien has hailed the news that a busy bridge between Wigston and South Wigston is to remain open, despite rail electrification works.
Following months of lobbying and questions to ministers Network Rail have confirmed they will lower the tracks, rather than raise the bridge.
Neil said:
“This is fantastic news. After months of me lobbying and asking questions in the Commons, officials and Ministers they have agreed to my campaign to keep Spion Kop Bridge on Blaby Road open during the coming electrification works.
During conversations I had at the start of this year they Network Rail agreed to work up an option to lower the tracks instead of shutting the bridge. At the time they were sceptical and I was told that would be more expensive than shutting the bridge.
However, I have repeatedly warned ministers and officials in the strongest terms that shutting the bridge would cause traffic chaos in Wigston, South Wigston and the south of Leicester. There are no good alternatives nearby, and it is always very busy.
It’s great they have listened, as the decision to take the tracks lower rather than shut the bridge avoids a potential 12 month road closure, which would have been a nightmare.
They are going to do works on the parapets on the sides of the bridge because they are not high, and there will be 25,000 volt cables running just underneath. They will probably shut one lane for some weeks, but have said the road will stay open throughout.
The actual works could be between Summer and Autumn 2025, but those are provisional dates at the moment.
The electrification agreed under the last government is a good thing which will make the trains quieter, faster, cheaper and cleaner. But until now it has left this issue hanging over Wigston, so it is great that the bridge closure has been averted.”
