Replacing Selhurst Road Bridge 

We will replace the Victorian-era railway bridge at Selhurst Road over Christmas and New Year as part of a major investment to maintain a safe and reliable railway for passengers and freight services.

Project timeline

We will assemble the new bridge on site and then move into place between 27 December and 2 January.

To enable the work to be carried out safely, road closures will be in place to complete the work. Selhurst Road beneath the railway bridge will be fully closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 08:00 on Saturday 12 December 2026 until 17:00 on Sunday 10 January 2027. Edith Road will also be closed to vehicles during this period but pedestrian access will be maintained.

What work is taking place?

The existing bridge was constructed in 1861, and we have carried out multiple repairs, but the bridge has now reached the end of its serviceable life and needs to be replaced.

The bridge replacement is a significant engineering project that will help ensure this important section of railway remains safe, resilient and reliable while reducing the need for future maintenance interventions on the ageing structure.

Our engineers will remove the existing bridge and install a new structure using specialist Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs), remotely controlled vehicles designed to move extremely heavy structures safely and precisely.

When is the work taking place?

We will assemble the new bridge on site and then move into place between 27 December and 2 January.

How will this work affect me?

Selhurst station remains open during the works and pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period.

To enable the work to be carried out safely, road closures will be in place to complete the work. Selhurst Road beneath the railway bridge will be fully closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 08:00 on Saturday 12 December 2026 until 17:00 on Sunday 10 January 2027. Edith Road will also be closed to vehicles during this period, but pedestrian access will be maintained.

There will be no vehicle or pedestrian access beneath the bridge while the closure is in place. Pedestrian access to properties on either side of the bridge will be maintained via segregated signed walking routes.

During planning, engineers identified underground utility pipes beneath the road which means a conventional heavy-lift crane cannot be safely used for the bridge installation.

While the alternative construction method requires a longer road closure, it is the safest and most practical solution for the project.

The work has been scheduled over the Christmas and New Year period when road traffic and rail passenger numbers are typically lower than at other times of the year.

This reduces the overall impact on the travelling public while allowing engineers to complete as much work as possible during a single period of disruption rather than a series of multiple weekends over many months.

We recognise the impact the works will have on local residents, businesses, road users and rail passengers and apologies for the inconvenience caused.

We will take reasonable steps to minimise noise and disturbance and will provide advance notice of particularly disruptive activities wherever possible to residents.

Why is the work needed?

The existing bridge was constructed in 1861, and we have carried out multiple repairs, but the bridge has now reached the end of its serviceable life and needs to be replaced.

The bridge replacement is a significant engineering project that will help ensure this important section of railway remains safe, resilient and reliable while reducing the need for future maintenance interventions on the ageing structure.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please visit our contact us page or telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.