Clifton Bridge replacement

We’ve replaced the railway bridge at Clifton, near junctions 39 to 40 of the M6, to make journeys safer and more reliable for years to come.

The video above shows the first passenger train service – operated by TransPennine Express – crossing the new bridge structure on Thursday 15 January 2026, following its installation the weekend prior. It also shows an Avanti West Coast passenger train crossing the bridge later in the morning.

The previous bridge was about 60 years old and had reached the end of its life, so we replaced it with a brand new structure in early January 2026.

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Project timeline

We completed the bridge replacement in January, but our compound will remain in place next to the M6 until Summer 2026 while we complete the final reinstatement work on and around the bridge itself.

So far, we’ve completed the following work:

  • Winter 2024 – 25: Early prep work, including utility diversions, and compound set-up.
  • Spring 2025: Long-term lane closures on the M6 begin.
  • January 2026: Full road and rail closures while the old bridge is removed and the new one installed.

What work took place?

Over 2025 and in early 2026, we:

  • Prepared the site with fencing and compound access
  • Diverted electric and water supply services to keep homes and businesses connected
  • Installed temporary support structures ahead of the main lift
  • Replaced the bridge with a brand-new structure designed to last 120 years

This new bridge is helping reduce future delays and make journeys more reliable for both road users and rail passengers on this major north – south route.

When is the work taking place?

We’ve worked closely with our partners at Skanska and National Highways to coordinate this project carefully. Here’s the project’s schedule:

  • Until Summer 2025: Utility work, compound access, and preparatory activity
  • February 2025 – Summer 2026: Northbound Lane 1 and hard shoulder closures on the M6
  • May 2025 -Summer 2026: Southbound Lane 1 and hard shoulder closures
  • 31 December 2025 -15 January 2026: Rail closure on the West Coast Main Line as the replacement takes place.
  • 2 – 5 and 9 – 12 January 2026: Full M6 motorway closures (both directions)

While most of the work is now complete, Southbound Lane 1 and hard shoulder closures are still in effect until Summer 2026 as we complete the final reinstatement work and demobilise our compound next to the M6.

How will this work affect me?

There will be some disruption during the project.

Lane 1 and hard shoulder on both sides of the M6 will remain closed until Summer 2026 to allow safe access to the project compound.

To complete the bridge replacement, we closed the M6 from 2-5 and 9-12 January and closed parts of the West Coast Main Line from 24 December 2025 and 15 January 2026.

Why was the work needed?

The video above shows the demolition of the previous bridge structure that took place over 2-5 January 2026. The footage is in a ’timelapse’ format and shows the demolition – which took place over a weekend – at an increased speed.

To demolish the bridge efficiently and safely, we worked with National Highways to close the M6 for two consecutive weekends in January 2026 – allowing us to demolish the existing structure and install the new bridge on 2-5 and 9-12 January, respectively.

The previous bridge was ageing and no longer met modern standards. Replacing it means:

  • Fewer disruptions in the future
  • Safer journeys for road users and rail passengers
  • A more reliable route for freight and passenger services
  • Long-term cost savings by avoiding emergency repairs later

This upgrade is part of our wider plan to strengthen rail infrastructure across the region and keep passengers moving now and in the future.

Find out more

For the latest information, please visit National Highways’ dedicated project webpage.

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