Project profile: Wheatley Viaduct

History

For years, Halifax had been disconnected from the railway network. Both residents and freight had to travel three miles to the nearest rail connection in Sowerby Bridge, until a branch line was finally constructed in 1844 that would connect Halifax at Shaw Syke.

The Halifax High Level Railway Line started from Holmfield, near Ovenden, and ran across Wheatley Valley on the Wheatley Viaduct, travelling on to St Paul’s Station at Queens Road.

(Railway line map drawing taken from our archives)

The viaduct connected to Wheatley Tunnel, which measures 745m long and was completed ahead of the viaduct, opening in 1876.

Useful in its time for transporting coal, the line gradually fell into decline and was closed, with the line dismantled.

About the structure

(Wheatley Viaduct from ground level in October 2023)

The brick and stone masonry viaduct sits in semi-urban surroundings, some 2km north west of Halifax. The viaduct has been closed to the public for safety reasons but has been accessed by trespassers and been vandalised over the years.

Having been standing for over 130 years, the viaduct has deteriorated. We’ve been looking after it for the past decade, carrying out repairs to brick work and regular vegetation clearance to prevent damage to the structure, and installing security measures to prevent access.

(Wheatley viaduct in 1997)

Despite this regular maintenance, our examiners recognised that major repairs were needed to ensure the viaduct’s long-term future. Prior to this major project, the structure had some open joints in areas of the brick arch barrels, was missing brickwork and had vertical fractures in the abutments.

As a result, we developed a major works programme of repairs, investing over £1 million to refurbish and waterproof the viaduct to ensure it remains safe.

What is the project?

(Viaduct hidden by excessive trees and vegetation in October 2023)

Working with our contractor, Amco Giffen, a team of highly skilled people, we:

• carried out bat surveys before starting any repair works to identify any bats using the structure and put in place measures to work around them, as well as stopping more bats entering the structure to avoid any delays to works
• cut back vegetation from trees surrounding the viaduct to gain access
• repaired brickwork and masonry repairing spandrel separation, fractures between the arch soffit and voussoirs. This included re-mortaring and stitching together pier eight using Cintec anchors
• cut out and replaced areas of water damaged brickwork and masonry from the arches and piers
• re-bedded displaced or loose masonry and replaced missing masonry
• mechanically re-mortared the internal and external faces of the parapets, piers, spandrels and arch soffits
• installed a waterproofing system to the full length of the viaduct deck, complete with drainage to carry water from the structure

What stage is it at?

Repairs to this iconic structure were completed in September 2024. 

HRE Engineer Muhammad Musa said:

“Wheatley is an important physical reminder of Halifax’s railway history and we’re delighted that the work needed has now been completed.

“Following one of our regular examinations it was clear the viaduct had numerous issues and our contractors have worked flat out since the end of last year to ensure  it remains safe and in good order for generations to come.”

Dave Martin from contractors AmcoGiffen said:

“This was a big project, with more than 2,000 metres of repointing completed, 100 metres of fractures repaired including installing more than 200 anchors, 1,600 square metres of deck stripped, waterproofed and reinstated.

“The viaduct is a big part of the local skyline so we’re proud that we’ve been able to secure its future for everyone to enjoy.”

Community engagement – Litter pick 19 December 2023

Just before Christmas a group of HRE contractors from AmcoGiffen and local Halifax volunteers collected roughly 35 bags of rubbish from the local area surrounding Wheatley Viaduct. Litter is a huge issue across the country and is huge a threat to the environment and wildlife, which is why we’re so proud to be helping the community tackle these issues.

Read the full story: HRE volunteers join Halifax locals to make a clean sweep