Rochdale station underpass project wins regional award
Date published: 10 March 2016
Work to refurbish and re-open the disused underpass at Rochdale railway station after 36 years of closure has won the Small Project category at the annual Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) North West Civil Engineering Awards.
The winning project was announced this week at a special ceremony at the Halston Hotel, Carlisle.
Judges were impressed with the combined innovation and tradition of the project, which was completed on 10 July last year.
The 40-metre section of previously disused underpass, accessed from Miall Street, now provides quick and easy access to both Rochdale railway station and the Metrolink stop for travellers using the park and ride car park on Hare Street.
The underpass was closed in 1979 and had fallen into disrepair, but has now been furnished with new signs, railings, LED lighting, CCTV, York stone flooring and a new drainage system.
Many of the heritage features from the original subway have been kept and restored, such as the ironwork, bridge decks, heritage railings and the brown, cream and light blue tiling inside the tunnel.
Historic photographs of how the station used to look are featured on the walls and railings. This includes an image from the royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary back in 1913.
Re-opening the underpass also complements Rochdale Borough Council’s masterplan for the station gateway area, to enhance accessibility to the station for rail users with wider physical improvements, including better lighting.
The project was be funded by Transport for Greater Manchester, Rochdale Borough Council and Network Rail.
Do you have a story for us?
Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Middleton school hails another outstanding inspection result
- 2Former councillor and hospital campaigner Jean Ashworth has died
- 3No trams between Oldham and Rochdale this Sunday
- 4Drugs and cash seized during morning raids at suspected stash houses
- 5Northern Healthcare opens supported living service in former Rochdale hotel
To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.
To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.