The project was to replace an existing gated level crossing with an up to date Manually Controlled Barrier level crossing.

The box which is in use today was originally opened in 1877 and controls the level crossing in the middle of Haydon Bridge village (Northumberland) acting as a block post between Hexham and Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlisle route.

The project presented a number of challenges including negotiating the length of possession required in order to allow, not only level crossing, but also the new work in the signal box to be changed-over and commissioned. To enable this to take place, the signalman together with telephones to a further 11 level crossing which he monitors, was moved out of the signal box into our own temporary accommodation with special train working implemented from Thursday night through to the commissioning. Further challenges were that the crossing was extensively used by young people from the local school, and that access had to be maintained at all times for the Fire Station adjacent to the crossing. The area being in the Tyne Valley is designated a conservation area, and therefore the control circuitry instead of being contained within in a Re-locatable Equipment Building adjacent to the signal box, had to be housed within cabinets mounted on a new removable floor in the under-portion of the signal box.