Work will begin at the end of this month to replace the bridge deck on Bellside Bridge at Cleland to raise the height and prevent it being damaged by high-sided vehicles.
The railway bridge on the A73 is the most frequently struck bridge in Scotland and the seventh most struck in the UK.
When a vehicle strikes the bridge, the road and rail line must be closed while an inspection is carried out, diverting traffic through the village.
Cleland councillor Louise Roarty told Lanarkshire Live : “I have written many letters, emails and had numerous conversations with Network Rail and North Lanarkshire Council over this.
“Now as an elected member for Murdostoun, I am delighted Network Rail and the council have came together to get this mammoth project over the line. All the hard work has paid off and the benefit to our community can be realised.
“Many thought this would never be delivered. The bridge has had more hits than the Beatles, so to say I am over the moon is an understatement.”
The eight week programme starts on August 30.
The project site with hard standing, access and crane platform will be set up and the deck structure built on site in the first three weeks.
There will then be a road closure on the A73 from south of the junction with Fernieshaw Road to north of Bellside roundabout from Monday, September 13, to Friday, October 15.
The new structure will be installed between Friday, October 1, to Monday, October 4, when the railway line will be closed.
Final completion works and demobilisation of the site will take place with the contractor due to leave the site on October 22.
The work was first announced back in March.
At that time, Network Rail’s Stewart Lothian said: “Vehicles striking bridges is a major cause of delay on Scotland’s railway and also costs around half-a-million pounds each year in avoidable costs.
“This bridge is the most bashed in the country and has been struck 56 times over the last decade causing over 3000 minutes of delay to trains.
“We are pleased to have been able to work with North Lanarkshire Council to find a long-term solution to this problem which will improve performance and enhance safety on our railway.”
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