By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
New details of major proposals to replace an ageing road bridge in Southampton have been revealed.
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The £100million Northam Rail Bridge project is seen as critical as failure to act could see authorities forced to close the route to motor vehicles in around a decade.
Southampton City Council and partner Network Rail are calling on businesses, communities, residents and commuters to back their bid for government funding that is needed to deliver the scheme.
Northam Rail Bridge is a key route in and out of the east side of the city centre although currently it presents a bottleneck at peak times with two lanes of traffic in each direction merging into single lanes to go over the railway line.
The council said replacing the 117-year-old structure, which is nearing the end of its operational life, with two new bridges would resolve ongoing maintenance challenges alongside unlocking new opportunities for sustainable travel, economic regeneration and improved connections.
Cllr Christie Lambert, deputy council leader and responsible for transport, said: “Replacing the Northam Rail Bridge is a vital step towards ensuring the safety and connectivity of our city.
“This project will not only address long-standing maintenance issues but also create new opportunities for growth and development.
“We are committed to working closely with the community to make this vision a reality and urge everyone to get involved, share their views, and help us secure government support.”
The proposed delivery of the project would ensure that vehicles can continue to travel on the route throughout a three-year construction phase.
First a new bridge would be built to the north of the current one, while the existing road remained in use.
Traffic would then switch to the new bridge to allow the ageing structure to be removed and replaced.
Once both new bridges are installed, the northern one could carry two lanes of eastbound traffic, while the southern one could include two lanes of westbound traffic and a dedicated bus lane.
The plans include segregated paths for pedestrians and cyclists, alongside improvements to the Brinton’s Road and Britannia Road junctions.
The local authority has launched an online survey for views to be shared and to strengthen the case for funding.
The Northam Rail Bridge. Photo: LDRS
A series of engagement events have been organised this month to see details about the project, ask questions and provide feedback.
The council is looking to submit its outline business case for funding to the Department for Transport (DfT) in spring 2026, with a planning application to and any refinements to the business case to follow.
A decision from DfT ministers would be expected in 2027.
Subject to funding being awarded and final approvals, on site construction could begin in summer 2028.
The new northern bridge would be installed in winter 2028, with traffic switching to it the following summer.
The existing bridge would be demolished in winter 2029 and its replacement installed in winter 2030.
This timeline is due to the bridge demolition and installations needing the railway line to be closed.
Paul McAleer, principal programme sponsor at Network Rail Wessex Route, said: “We’re proud to be working as Southampton City Council’s delivery partner on this transformative project.
“Northam Rail Bridge sits at the heart of one of the UK’s most critical rail corridors, connecting Southampton to London, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, and beyond.
“Together, the council’s transformational vision and Network Rail’s engineering expertise, we can deliver a modern, resilient bridge that supports sustainable transport, economic growth, and long-term benefits for both road and rail users.”
Details of the engagement events are:
- Southampton City College, St Mary’s Street – Tuesday, November 18, 4pm to 7pm
- Newtown YMCA Youth Centre, Graham Road – Wednesday, November 19, 2pm to 7pm
- Northam Community Centre, Kent Street – Saturday, November 22, 10am to 2pm
- Northam Community Centre, Kent Street – Wednesday, November 26, 4pm to 7pm
Further information about the project, including the survey, can be found at southampton.gov.uk/northamrailbridge
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