PEOPLE have gained a first glimpse of Worcester’s gleaming railway bridge now beautifully restored to its former glory.

The Foregate Street Bridge once again returned to the limelight after spending many months hidden by scaffolding while the work to restore it was painstakingly carried out. An official opening ceremony will take place on Friday (February 22) at 11am attended by various dignitaries involved in the Network Rail project.

However, people were able to admire the good work today, completed successfully by civil engineering and rail specialists J Murphy & Sons Ltd on the bridge, which is grade two listed and dates back to 1860.

John Baker of Network Rail said: “We have preserved the bridge for many years to come and have restored it to its former glory.” Work included restoring the fractured cast iron fascia, replacing the bridge drainage system, restoring the steel girders and painting.

The £1.1 million Network Rail scheme was due to finish on August 31 last year but workmen found more corrosion than expected and a new timetable for the work had to be drawn up.

Network Rail also issued a statement thanking the people of Worcester ‘for their patience and understanding’ while the restoration work was carried out. A separate £785,000 revamp of Worcester Foregate Street railway station can now begin.

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