A MAJOR railway bridge upgrade will take place at the end of next month, resulting in a full road closure.

As part of the £545k Great North Rail Project, the planned work will see the railway bridge spanning Islands Brow refurbished and strengthened so it remains safe and reliable for years to come.

To safely complete the work – which will take take about three weeks to complete – there will be a full road closure in place on Islands Brow underneath the bridge from Monday, July 26 to Monday, August 16.

Calum Gardner, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We’re carrying out essential work to strengthen Islands Brow railway bridge as part of the Great North Rail Project to help keep the railway running reliably for passengers and freight trains.”

St Helens Council has been working closely with Network Rail to minimise disruption, and has aligned the work with the upcoming school holidays.

While the council appreciate the inconvenience this may cause local residents, Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said the work is “necessary” for the future safety of rail passengers and motorists alike.

Work to refurbish the bridge will take place during a combination of day and night-time shifts, and Network Rail have committed to keeping the community updated as the work progresses.

Mr Gardner added that the planned improvements will also keep the road beneath the bridge safe, and thanked motorists and local people for their patience during the road closure.