Giant crane brought in to replace Burnley rail bridge

The rotten and rusted old bridge next to Burnley Barracks was craned out before an 80-tonne new one was lifted in using a 1,000-tonne crane.

Twenty-five Team Orange workers grafted round the clock to get the job done.

The task include installing a temporary pontoon across the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to catch falling debris as the structure, approaching 100 years old, was removed.

The £1.4m job was done by Network Rail in partnership with contractors Murphy and Story.

Chris Atkins, scheme project manager, said: “This work was excellently planned and excellently delivered. Well done, everyone involved.

“Replacing this bridge is a must-do job that is essential for the continued safe running of the railway for customers in Burnley.”

Fifty metres of new bi-directional track was laid across the new bridge, which is a bi-directional, lesser-used branch line.