The bridge, which is nearly 60 years old, carries trains running between Manchester and Rochdale over the M62, including freight services transporting materials to and from Drax power station near Selby in North Yorkshire.
Network Rail said the bridge was critical to the function of 6 per cent of the UK’s energy supply. While it is being rebuilt, the railway between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale will also be closed from Friday until September 25.
The M62 will close again from September 20 to September 23 as the new bridge is installed. National Highways said the planned weekend closures of the M62 were the first in “recent memory”.
Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner, said the company was “urging drivers to avoid this section of the M62” by “delaying journeys or planning alternative routes”.
He added that anyone who needed to use the motorway on that weekend should “follow the official diversions and not rely on satnav advice”.
The motorway closure will coincide with a staff shortage on some train services between Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool over the weekend.
Train operator Northern has warned that short notice cancellations are expected due to “train crew being unavailable” and has advised passengers not to travel between certain major stations.
This includes between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge; Manchester Victoria and Chester; Manchester Piccadilly and Chester; Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke; and Liverpool Lime Street and Blackpool North.