M6 Clifton railway bridge replacement hailed a success

Penrith's mayor has praised the "hard work" of teams involved in the Clifton railway bridge replacement, which required full closures of the M6 and the West Coast Main Line during upgrades delivered over two weekends in early January. The bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure, carrying the West Coast Main Line over the M6. Councillor Val Bowen, Mayor of Penrith, said: "I would like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of Penrith Town Council to National Highways, Network Rail and all the engineers, contractors and support teams involved in the recent Clifton railway bridge replacement project.

"This vital piece of infrastructure carrying the West Coast Main Line over the M6 near Penrith has now been successfully renewed with a new 130-metre steel bridge built to last over 120 years, supporting safe and reliable journeys for both road and rail users for decades to come." The 14-day scheme in Cumbria formed part of wider upgrades along the northern half of the West Coast Main Line. Clifton railway bridge, weighing 4,200 tonnes and spanning 130 metres, was the largest single element of the project.

It required a full closure of both the M6 motorway and the railway line - an 'unprecedented' move to allow for safe demolition and installation. Work began over the first two weekends of January, with the motorway closed between junctions 39 and 40. The team, led by Network Rail and principal contractor Skanska, demolished the old bridge and installed the new structure during the closure.

Despite the scale of the challenge, the M6 reopened 13 hours ahead of schedule. Cllr Bowen said: "Completing such a major engineering project over two weekends in early January 2026, with full motorway closures carefully planned to minimise disruption, was no small task. "I'm especially grateful that the M6 reopened on schedule and even ahead of plan on Sunday afternoon of January 11 thanks to the hard work of everyone on site."

She also acknowledged the impact on the wider community. Cllr Bowen said: "I also want to thank local residents, businesses and travellers for their patience during the closures and diversionary routes. "The coordinated effort between partners helped keep impacts to a minimum and ensured this essential investment in our transport infrastructure could be delivered safely and efficiently.

"It's reassuring to see this long-serving bridge replaced and ready for the future."

Train services are now up and running again along the northern half of the West Coast Main Line.