The £1.77m NEC Option A scheme was completed on time, under budget and with zero accidents, despite significant constraints associated with heritage assets, live railway operations and high‑traffic urban surroundings.
The project improved the long‑term structural capacity of the bridge, enhanced safety for both highway users and the railway beneath and delivered wider community benefits through voluntary social value commitments. Through proactive planning and close collaboration with Network Rail and third‑party stakeholders, ten railway possessions were removed from the original programme, reducing disruption and cost for both the client and rail operators

Derby Street Railway Bridge was constructed in 1848 and was not designed to accommodate modern traffic loading. The bridge carries the A570 over a live railway corridor linking Preston and Liverpool and is located within Ormskirk town centre, creating a highly constrained working environment.
Key challenges included:
A historic, listed masonry structure requiring sensitive strengthening solutions
High risk interface with a live operational railway
Narrow traffic lanes and sub standard footways presenting safety risks to users
Multiple third party stakeholders, including Network Rail, Merseytravel, Northern Rail, the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust
The requirement to maintain traffic flow with no road closures
The works were primarily required to improve structural integrity, increase parapet heights to modern standards, and address pedestrian and vehicular safety concerns while preserving the bridge’s heritage value.

A E Yates were involved in early discussions regarding this scheme and were able to suggest Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) as a catalyst to streamline the process from concept design, through to construction delivery.
Our solution included bringing the site investigations under the management of the Principal Contractor. This allowed for early identification of risks and formulate actions to remove or mitigate the risks. The process for moving through the design process was accelerated and informed construction methods early.