The complex engineering operation has been carefully planned by Hampshire County Council working with their contractor, GRAHAM, to ensure the work can be carried out safely alongside Network Rail's own activities to deliver essential signalling and rail infrastructure upgrades.
Two large cranes will be brought on site on Monday 26 October to dismantle and remove the 185-metre-long bridge and connecting ramps in a series of planned lifts. The main crane, with a vertical lift capacity of 650 tonnes, will be positioned in the station forecourt, while a second crane, with a lift capacity of 150 tonnes, will operate from Elmleigh Road Car Park to remove sections of the bridge on the north side of the railway. Engineers will remove the bridge in sections, with each weighing up to 50 tonnes - equivalent to around three double decker buses.
Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, said: "This a major milestone for our modernisation scheme, requiring specialist teams to carefully dismantle and lift out the ageing metal bridge. It is a highly complex engineering operation which can only take place when the railway line is fully closed, so it is being carried out in close coordination with Network Rail's own programme of works taking place over the October half term holidays.
"The timing of the lifting operations will be dependent on a range of factors, including weather conditions and wind speeds, and plans may need to be adjusted at short notice to ensure the work can be completed safely. We appreciate that residents and businesses may experience some disruption while this important stage of the project is carried out and would like to thank the local community for their ongoing patience and understanding."
Once completed, the new crossing will provide significant improvements for residents and visitors. It will be twice as wide as the existing structure and feature gentler ramps, making it more accessible for cyclists, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, as well as people travelling with prams or pushchairs.
The replacement is expected to take up to 12 months to complete - people can keep up to date with progress and sign up for regular e-bulletin updates via the scheme webpage
For further information about Network Rail’s planned closures click here.