York Central on track with bridge installation
Sisk Infrastructure spent the bank holiday hoisting the main beams for the structure over the Network Rail East Coast Main Line.
Seven, 86.2-metre-long beams were lifted into place to form the bridge, which will connect Park Street with Water End and will improve access into York Central.
Each of the seven beams had inner beams weighting 85 tonnes and outer beams weighing 130 tonnes, with the completed bridge weighing 321 tonnes and spanning 76 metres.
Credit: Sisk
Follow on works are now underway to deliver new roads, footpaths, and cycleways to create safer routes into York Central, with the bridge expected to open in 2027 once remaining highway works are complete.
Additional works on the pedestrian footbridge alongside the existing rail bridge at Water End are also due to take place in the coming weeks.
Sisk completed the milestone on behalf of Homes England, part of the team delivering York Central which also includes joint venture development partners McLaren Property, Arlington Real Estate, and Network Rail, in collaboration with stakeholders the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.
York Central is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects and is roughly around two-thirds of the size of the historic walled city.
The project already has outline planning approval with reserved matters for phase one of the £2bn regeneration scheme submitted in December.
Phase one will include 999 homes, a 99,000 sq ft innovation hub, 70,000 sq ft of retail space, a 213-bed hotel, and extensive public realm, as well as a new western station entrance.
The scheme has been led by masterplanner Allies and Morrison as well as landscape specialists Grant Associates.
Credit: Sisk
Alan Rodger, MD, Sisk Infrastructure said: “This is a major milestone for our York Central project team. It required meticulous engineering and planning, which included temporary works and digital construction, right through to our supply chain partners, client, Network Rail, and other key stakeholders.
“Together, we’ve delivered a complex piece of engineering with precision and collaboration over a stretch of the busiest rail network in the UK.
“We’re excited to carry this momentum into the summer months as we move into the next phase of this transformative development.”
On behalf of the York Central partnership, Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “Seeing the York Central site evolve over recent months and start to be used by our residents has been amazing.
“Preparing for the bridge lift has been a huge partnership effort and is a significant engineering feat. I want to thank everyone who has been involved.
“While there is still more work to do before the bridge opens this was a major step forward for the York Central project which in time will transform our city, deliver new homes, high quality jobs and amazing public spaces for the people of York.”
