DRIVERS are being thanked for their patience and understanding after the M62 was closed over the weekend for a railway bridge demolition.

Network Rail is investing more than £22million to rebuild a 42metre long, 2,000-tonne railway bridge that takes trains over the M62 in Castleton, near Rochdale.

For the first time in recent memory, the motorway is being closed over two weekends.

This weekend just gone, the road was closed on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 18 and 20, and westbound between junctions 19 and 20.

In total, 120 people worked around the clock to demolish the existing Castleton bridge, which takes trains between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.

Once the motorway was closed, the team installed a deck to protect the road from damage, positioned demolition equipment and methodically dismantled the old bridge, beam by beam.

To do this, workers used 11 excavators to pull the bridge apart with 14-tonne hydraulic hammers and jaws.

Drone photographs show the demolition excavators carefully removing the bridge on the deserted motorway, which reopened this morning, Monday, at around 5am.

William Brandon, project manager at Network Rail, said: “I would like to thank passengers and drivers for their patience as we rebuild Castleton bridge.

“It is essential that we replace this ageing bridge for the safety of rail and road users, but I am sorry for the significant disruption the work will cause.”

Until Friday, September 20, there will be nightly closures of the M62 between junctions 19 and 20, from 9pm to 6am, to allow engineers to continue work to the bridge supports.

Drivers are being reminded that from 9pm on Friday, September 20, to 6am on Monday, September 23, the M62 will be closed for another weekend between junctions 18 and 20 heading eastbound, between junctions 19 and 20 westbound.

The railway between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale will remain closed until early morning of Wednesday, September 15.

Rail replacement buses are in operation, and passengers are advised to check their travel in advance as journey times will be significantly longer than usual.