Viaduct clean up bill could be £20m
IT’S one of Greater Manchester’s most iconic landmarks. But it’s filthy - and isn’t likely to be properly cleaned any time soon because doing so will be very, very expensive.
Stockport Viaduct is a gem, but is in a poor state. And it could be up to a decade before it is given a full scrub.
It’s covered in limestone stains and graffiti and badly needs waterproofing.
The dishevelled 27-arch structure - made with eleven MILLION bricks is a major feat of Victorian engineering.
Nearly 30 years ago, £3m was put into cleaning it from top to bottom. Doing the same now would cost around £20m.
That’s why Network Rail, which has responsibility for the Grade IIlisted viaduct, says it could be up to 10 years before it’s properly spruced up.
And because the viaduct carries four tracks, including the West Coast Mainline, it’s a planning nightmare.
It could take up to four years just to get permission for the huge job to start.
A town hall meeting recently heard the soonest work could begin was ‘five to 10 years’.
Around £1m is spent maintaining the viaduct every five years. In 2017, brickwork repairs were carried out, as well as some cleaning.
But a full restoration is needed.
Councillors called for the viaduct to have every bit of the limestone staining, caused by poor drainage, removed, claiming the state of the structure was ‘detracting’ from work to regenerate the town centre.
Rob Stephens, from Network Rail, told the central area committee meeting: “There’s nothing I want more than to waterproof the viaduct, but it comes down to money and planning.
“We only have a limited budget to manage all our structures. We have to spread the money we have to prioritise safety, there are not any safety issues with Stockport Viaduct.
“I appreciate the drainage isn’t the best it could be. It is a shame about the staining we will try and remove it in due course.”
Assurances were given that graffiti would be removed from one of the arches that the new Travis Brow extension road will pass through.
And Mr Stephens said Network Rail will look at waterproofing the area of the viaduct above Weir Mill, which is earmarked for a housing development, so water does not drip onto buildings.
The viaduct has stood astride Stockport town centre since its completion in 1840. It was designed by George Watson Buck, is 111ft tall and 1,786 ft in length.
As rain falls on the structure and hits the limestone under the tracks, water runs down the side, leaving the brickwork stained.
Councillor Philip Harding told the meeting that staining on ‘such a prominent structure is an absolute disgrace’.
He wants the cleaning done in the next financial year.
“Most of your investment seems to be at Piccadilly Station and the corridor onto Victoria station [in Manchester],” he told Mr Stephens.
“Stockport seems to have been relatively forgotten.”