THE rail line between Crewe and Chester has reopened today to passengers after a nine-day closure, part of the £5.7 million Boulderstones Bridge project.

The Great North Rail Project involves the complete renewal of the bridge which takes A530 Middlewich Road traffic over the railway.

Diversions have been in place on the west side of Crewe since June and the A530 will still be shut south of its junction with Pyms Lane until October while the finishing touches to the bridge are completed.

The main bridge was lifted out in June and engineers placed the new structure in place during a blockade of the Crewe to Chester line between August 15 and 23.

Network Rail says the essential work will make the crossing safer and more reliable for road users above and rail passengers below for decades to come.

Oluwole Osunneye, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: "This essential Railway Upgrade Plan work will bring the crossing over the railway up to modern standards making it safe and reliable for both traffic above and rail passengers below.

"We are very grateful for the patience of rail passengers and road users in Crewe while we completely renew this bridge which will reduce traffic and train delays in the years to come"

Diversions and rail replacement buses were in place while the track was closed.

Nick Westcott, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said: "We would like to thank our customers for their patience when travelling with us over the last nine days while Network Rail completed these works.

"By bringing the road bridge up to modern standards it will reduce the maintenance that can sometimes impact the railway, helping to make journeys between Crewe and Chester more reliable for many years to come."