A massive engineering project will bring "12 months of chaos and carnage" to Stockport town centre, a councillor has warned.

Network Rail will start work to replace the Greek Street bridge at the armoury roundabout, which will be closed to traffic from March 31 for one year. A number of diversion routes have been planned along the A6, Edgeley Road and Stockport Road to try and reduce disruption while the work takes place.

Several bus services will also be impacted including the 11, 309, 310, 312, 313 and 374, with alternative routes in place from Wellington Road via Booth Street and Longshut Lane West.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM's chief network officer, said bus diversion routes "may sometimes need to change" and asked passengers to regularly check the Bee Network website or app for further information.

Edgeley councillor Asa Caton urged drivers to stick to official diversion routes to try and minimise disruption for residents.

He said: "We've pushed [Stockport council] highways to do as much as they can, the rest of it comes down to driver behaviour. We've just got to plead with drivers [to do the right thing]. It's going to be 12 months of chaos and carnage."

Diversion routes will be in place while repairs are carried out (Image - Network Rail)

The closure is part of Network Rail's £16m investment to replace the 'aging' bridge that crosses over the West Coast Main Line.

The original bridge, which was constructed in 1958, has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced, the company said.

Olivia Boland from Network Rail said: "I know that closing the roundabout for a year will disrupt the daily lives of the local community, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause.

"We have worked closely with Stockport Council and TfGM [Transport for Greater Manchester] to make road, pedestrian, and bus diversions as convenient as possible.

"I'd advise you to please follow the official diversionary routes, which can be found on the Network Rail website."

Cllr Grace Baynham, Stockport's transport and highways lead, said the work is "essential" for keeping the road and railway safe for years to come.

She added: "We're working closely with Network Rail and TfGM to keep Stockport moving, with diversion routes in place to help ease the impact. We really appreciate everyone's patience and understanding while this vital project is carried out."

(Image - Network Rail)

The work is also set to impact train services which pass through the town.

During Easter 2025, work will take place to prepare the railway for the bridge's replacement.

There will be changes to train services from April 19 to 22, where passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before they travel. Some services will be diverted around Stockport, whilst others will be replaced with a bus.

Network Rail said the work will include demolishing and rebuilding the bridge, which it described as a "complex process."

Over Christmas 2024, engineers constructed a temporary bridge to reroute existing utility services such as water and electricity.

Rail services under the bridge will also be affected (Image - Nub News)

Once the road is closed next month, the road layout will be removed in a way that does not damage the bridge structure while the railway is in operation.

From August 2 to 23, the bridge – which is made of about 200 concrete beams – will be demolished and the new bridge will be installed.

Then, the Network Rail team will redirect the utility services, waterproof the bridge, and reinstate the road.

Stockport MP Navendu Mishra said: "I acknowledge the impact to the community will be significant during the closure of the roundabout, but the investment is welcomed and is critical for the long-term future of the railway bridge.

"Network Rail have held consultation events, and I encourage them to continue their engagement during the closure with residents, businesses and other stakeholders."

~

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or Twitter