From the
organisers of		Concrete Show Logo
 

Murphy installs new concrete-steel bridge in four-day lift

By Richard High, 03 September, 2025
A blue crawler crane lifts Beam 9 into position at Greek Street last month (August, 2025). Engineers from Murphy lift new concrete and steel bridge beams into place over Stockport’s West Coast Main Line.

Network Rail and its contractor Murphy have reached a key milestone in a £20 million overhaul of the Greek Street bridge in Stockport, successfully installing the new bridge structure over the West Coast Main Line within a 21-day rail closure. Murphy completed the main concrete and steel beam installation in just four days, supported by 100 engineers working around the clock.

The replacement upgrades the 1958-built structure carrying Greek Street roundabout with a modern bridge designed for a 120-year lifespan. In the first week of the closure, the original bridge was fully dismantled and around 200 old concrete beams removed, creating a 60 metre-wide gap over the tracks. The new structure includes a 350 m³ concrete bridge deck, 10 concrete cills, six concrete beams, 22 steel beams, and 13 brick-faced parapet panels. These were lifted into place over four days using two massive cranes with a combined 1,300-tonne capacity, spanning the 60 m gap across five electrified rail lines.

William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “The work at Greek Street has been planned meticulously, and it’s great to see it all come together on site as we expected. Once the railway reopens, journeys for passengers will be safer and more reliable for the next 120 years. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the West Coast Main Line for future generations.”

An aerial view shows multiple new beams installed, spanning the 60 m gap created after dismantling the original 1958 bridge. An aerial view shows multiple new beams installed, spanning the 60 m gap created after dismantling the original 1958 bridge.

Stephen Harnett, Murphy’s project manager, added: “It’s immensely rewarding to complete this core milestone of the project. The effort put in by our team has been nothing short of amazing as they work around the clock to upgrade and return this critical piece of infrastructure to the local community.”

Network Rail began preparation work in 2024, including installing a scaffold bridge to divert utilities during the closure.

The 21-day blockade also allowed for £23 million of upgrades across 50 miles of the West Coast Main Line, covering viaduct waterproofing, track renewals, footbridge works and platform improvements.

The first of the new steel and concrete beams is lifted into place across the West Coast Main Line during the Greek Street bridge replacement. The first of the new steel and concrete beams is lifted into place across the West Coast Main Line during the Greek Street bridge replacement.
Beams on route from Trafford Park to Greek Street in Stockport August 2025. Specialist vehicles transport the new bridge beams from Trafford Park to Stockport, escorted through tight junctions and roundabouts. Beams on route from Trafford Park to Greek Street in Stockport August 2025. Specialist vehicles transport the new bridge beams from Trafford Park to Stockport, escorted through tight junctions and roundabouts.
An aerial view shows multiple new beams installed, spanning the 60 m gap created after dismantling the original 1958 bridge. An aerial view shows multiple new beams installed, spanning the 60 m gap created after dismantling the original 1958 bridge.
Precast parapet panels with a brick finish are craned into position to form the new bridge’s edge details. Precast parapet panels with a brick finish are craned into position to form the new bridge’s edge details.
Teams worked through the night to lift pre-made parapet units into place, keeping the 21-day closure on track. Teams worked through the night to lift pre-made parapet units into place, keeping the 21-day closure on track.
Got a Story? Submit your news here

Tags