Road diversion for Norton Bridge development

A temporary diversion will be in place on the Stone to Eccleshall B5026 road to allow the final stage of the major road and rail development at Norton Bridge.

As well as the rail works, the B5026 Eccleshall to Stone Road will run along a new 1.2km section of road which is being built near to Norton Bridge. A temporary diversion will be in place between 5th October and 23rd November, with traffic on the existing Eccleshall-Stone road being re-routed to the north via Yarnfield at Meece roundabout. There’s more information HERE.

The first phase of the new road is well under way but scheme manager Matt Clark said the wet summer and heavy downpours had restricted earth movements, which had delayed the completion of embankments for the next phase of highway works.

Matt Clark said: “We appreciate this is going to cause some inconvenience and we want to apologise to local residents who have been very patient while we’ve carried out this vital work. The wet weather has been a significant challenge for the programme but we’re still well ahead of schedule overall and we’re not just building a better railway, we’re building a better, safer road for local residents.’”

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The Staffordshire Alliance of Network Rail, Atkins, VolkerRail and Laing O’Rourke is constructing a new rail-over-rail flyover at Norton Bridge which will deliver the capability for more passenger and freight services to run. The work is part of a £250 million investment which includes line-speed improvements between Norton Bridge and Crewe, re-signalling of the Stafford area and the new flyover. Eleven new bridges have been built along with six miles of new track. Around one million tonnes of earth is being moved and four rivers have been temporarily diverted.

The new section of road will open in late November, with the flyover set for completion at Easter 2016.

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Thanks to Paul Dawson for these photos – taken from Searchlight Lane in Chebsey – of the new sections of rail line. The first is looking back towards Stafford, the second looking towards Stone