Story Contracting has successfully delivered a major milestone with the installation of a new 140‑tonne asymmetrical steel arch bridge at Three Arches in rural Leicestershire, on behalf of Network Rail and alongside SPL Powerlines.
Installed during a planned weekend railway closure, the new bridge spans the Midland Main Line and forms a key part of ongoing upgrade works to support electrification of the route from Kettering to Wigston.
The previous bridge at the location had been removed in 2024 after it was identified as incompatible with future electrification requirements. Footage of the demolition can be viewed here.
The newly installed structure has been specifically designed to provide the necessary clearance for overhead line equipment (OLE), supporting long‑term ambitions for a fully electrified Midland Main Line.
The complex lift marked the culmination of around four months of on‑site activity, during which the Story team carried out extensive enabling works to prepare for the installation. Due to the size and bespoke nature of the structure, the bridge was fully assembled on site over the past month, with the steelwork erected piece by piece and finished with a full protective paint system before being lifted into position.
The installation was completed safely under a full railway possession, with a controlled exclusion zone in place throughout the lift. The operation was delivered in close collaboration with specialist lifting partner Osprey, who used a 650‑tonne crawler crane to manoeuvre the 140‑tonne bridge into position.
The successful delivery reflects strong collaboration across the project’s supply chain. RMF supported the works by delivering the civils and temporary works, while Carver Engineering Services fabricated the steel structure.
Despite the scale and complexity of the operation, the project team successfully installed the bridge within the planned possession. Work will now continue to complete the remaining activities and progress the scheme through the required assurance process.
Tom Adamson, Story Agent, said:
“I’m extremely proud of the Story team for working through some significant challenges over recent months to achieve this milestone. We’ve reflected Story’s core values throughout design and delivery which have contributed to the project’s success – thank you to all involved.”
Sam Basudev, Network Rail Project Manager, said:
“We have been working very closely with Story from the start of the design up until this point, making sure that any issues that have come about as a result of the design or otherwise have been solved quickly and easily. It’s been a challenging project because we’re working to quite tight timescales to get the bridge in and commissioned, and I think we have worked very well with Story as a team to be on plan to deliver that.”
Tim Ellis, SPL Senior Project Manager, said:
“A collaborative design and delivery project by SPL Powerlines, Story Contracting and Network Rail teams ensuring the works were delivered safely and on time.”
