WORK starts today on the “final piece of the jigsaw” for Bolton’s railway bridge rebuilding project which will leave a Blackrod road closed for four months.

Network Rail will begin the task of reconstructing a bridge in Grimeford Lane in Blackrod to prepare the area for the electrification of the rail network.

A host of bridges across Bolton have been or are in the process of being rebuilt, including Lostock Lane, which was completed last year and Orlando Bridge, which will be completed next spring.

Earlier this year, Blackrod residents were faced with chaos as work started to rebuild a bridge in Station Road — with Network Rail initially deciding to work on Grimeford Lane at the same time.

The joint scheme cause major travel issues in the village and Network Rail responded to a campaign by residents and councillors, and postponed the Grimeford Lane project.

That scheme is now ready to start after the rebuilding of Station Road was finished.

The bridge rebuilding has been necessary so that enough clearance is provided for overhead lines to be placed in position to power the new electric trains.

Over the past 18 months, Network Rail has reconstructed 15 road bridges and four footbridges on the line between Manchester and Preston — along with demolishing one bridge which is no longer used and reconstructing the River Chor Aqueduct in Chorley.

Grimeford Lane will close today and is due to re-open on November 6 — a temporary footbridge has been constructed to maintain pedestrian access.

This is part of a wider work which saw the track lowered through Chorley Tunnel last summer, and will see a new tunnel at Farnworth.

Each bridge requires significant work to replace the bridge deck which can only be completed during round-the-clock working over weekends when the railway is closed.

Network Rail officials have said that, as there are limited weekends when the railway can be closed, the bridges have to be completed simultaneously so the electrified railway between Manchester and Preston via Bolton will be available for use by December 2016.

John Johnson, project manager for Network Rail, said: “These bridge rebuilds are an essential part of the electrification of the railway which will provide passengers with a faster, more reliable and efficient railway.

“I apologise for the disruption caused to the surrounding road network but we have worked closely with the local authority to plan the diversions and will complete the work in the quickest and safest possible way.”

Councillor David Chadwick, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for transport said: “This is the final piece of the jigsaw for bridge reconstructions by Network Rail.

“There has been a great deal of inconvenience to the travelling public and I am grateful to them for their patience and understanding during these difficult times. I am sure that the modernisation of the Manchester to Preston line will have big future benefits for passengers.”