Network Rail has confirmed it will replace four railway bridges on the London Overground Suffragette line in east London, causing major disruption from September 1 through late summer 2027. The bridges, all 130 years old, are located on Talbot Road, Strode Road, Stracey Road, and Latimer Road in the Forest Gate area, serving trains between Leytonstone High Road and Woodgrange Park stations.
Scheduled Works and Closures
Work will begin at Talbot Road and Stracey Road bridges on September 1, followed by Strode Road and Latimer Road on September 28. The Suffragette line will be closed on some weekends during the project. Roads and pavements under each bridge will be shut throughout, with potential smaller road closures in 2027.
Construction Phases
The first phase involves extending support structures at the ends of existing bridges to carry new decks. The second phase includes demolishing old bridge decks and installing new spans. The new structures will have a lifespan of approximately 123 years.
Joe Kennedy, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “Thousands of people travel over these old bridges every day by train, passing through residential areas in east London. Our project will deliver four brand new bridges that will serve the surrounding community and rail passengers for several generations. We’re really sorry for the disruption and we’ll work very closely with residents and businesses to keep the impact to a minimum while we get the job done.”
Community Engagement
Residents and businesses have been sent letters advising them of the works. Public drop-in sessions are scheduled for August. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses.
