Flood bridge work to get under way next month

Work on a notorious flooding blackspot is just weeks away from starting.
Photo Neil Cross
The railway bridge at Euxton that has become an interent hit since the floodsPhoto Neil Cross
The railway bridge at Euxton that has become an interent hit since the floods
Photo Neil Cross The railway bridge at Euxton that has become an interent hit since the floods

The West Coast Main Line bridge on Euxton Lane was badly flooded following a winter storm.

The road underneath was up to ten feet of water for about 50 yards for weeks in last year and only re-opened in January.

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It became the scene of amusement - and embarrassment when a video of a jet skier on the water going under the bridge went viral online.

Divers were called in to search for missing vehicles believed to have been left there when their drivers became stranded.

And people were even seen ‘fishing’ there for a joke.

A spokesman for Network Rail said yesterday: “Our plans to repair the broken drain that spans Euxton and School Lane are progressing well and we were granted temporary access to Wigan Road to help deliver the scheme by Chorley Council in May. We are now in the process of appointing a specialist contractor and are hoping to start the work in July.

“It is scheduled to last for around 12 weeks and we will work closely with Lancashire County Council and Chorley Council to keep disruption to local people to a minimum.”

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County councillor Mark Perks, of Euxton North division, was happy the work would be starting soon, but said: “I welcome the start, but also Lancashire County Council and United Utilities need to take into account we don’t have the repeat issues of diverted traffic going down Pear Tree Lane and School Lane.

“I think the diversion should be up Central Avenue to the A49.”

He added: “People, the residents of Euxton particularly, use Euxton Lane under the railway bridge. Every time there’s a deluge, we have the risk of flooding, so the sooner the better. It’s gone on far too long.”