Timeline To Solve South Bank Station Access Issues Agreed For Summer

A timetable to demolish the existing footbridge at South Bank Station and create a new temporary bridge has been agreed.

Surveys deemed the bridge at South Bank railway station unsafe for use and beyond economical repair in October last year – resulting in its closure.

Now Network Rail, Northern, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority have worked together and agreed a plan to get access reinstated as soon as possible this summer.

Work to demolish the existing footbridge and install a new temporary structure will start on site from 2 July – with the works completed and access reinstated by the end of August.

The main works will take place overnight and on weekends to keep disruption to a minimum.

The temporary structure will provide vital access to the eastbound platform and north of the line for three to five years – with the new bridge ready and open for use in August.

The existing footbridge is owned and maintained by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council – and officials across organisations have worked on finding an access solution behind the scenes to both reduce disruption to rail services and open up more pedestrian access to Teesworks, SeAH Wind’s monopile manufacturing facility, which is now nearing completion, and businesses on Smith’s Dock Road.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This bridge has been a problem for far too long. Safety processes on the railway do take a long time – but we now have light at the end of the tunnel to get access sorted out.

“Not only do we need people getting access to rail services from South Bank, but the pedestrian access over the railway is badly needed for hundreds of people we have working on the western reaches of Teesworks at projects like SeAH Wind, Steel River Quay and contractors readying land for Orsted and Severfield – not to mention the dozens of other businesses we have the other side of the railway line.

“I’m now looking forward to action taking place in the short-term which will help open the door to our longer-term ambitions to create the better, bolder and more modern station that South Bank deserves so everyone can, crucially, access both its platforms and the opportunities being created at Teesworks and along the railway line.”

Temporary bus services and taxis have shuttled eastbound passengers who use South Bank station from Middlesbrough to Redcar since the closure.

Cllr Carl Quartermain, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “We know how important this footbridge is for local people, especially for those accessing work and education. We’ve been working closely with our partners to find a safe and practical solution as quickly as possible.

“The agreement to remove the existing bridge and install a temporary bridge is a vital step forward, and we’re grateful to Network Rail, Northern and Tees Valley Combined Authority for their collaboration and commitment to getting this done by the end of the summer.”

Network Rail contractors will carry out the works on demolition and creating the temporary metal footbridge.

Michael Clegg, Network Rail route engineer, said: “We are making very good progress with the design work involved in making this new footbridge access at South Bank station a reality.

“We’re grateful to station visitors for their patience, and we look forward to getting started on site in just a few weeks’ time – and seeing the new footbridge open for use this summer.”