A bridge over a motorway is being replaced in a £23m engineering project that will see a slip road closed for three years, highways bosses have announced. Work at St Anne's Bridge - over the M67 in Denton, Tameside - is due to start next month, with the bridge closing from 9pm on January 10.
The bridge and the entry slip road joining the M67 at junction 2 will need to remain closed for three years due to the extent of the structural work required, said National Highways.
They said the bridge required 'extensive structural repairs', with a spokesman saying: "We have explored many potential options for repairing the bridge and have concluded that the best solution is to replace the bridge entirely. This is quicker, safer, and more practical than repairing it.
"One of the reasons the construction project will take so long is that the bridge carries local utilities, including gas, electricity, and water pipelines, which we will need to divert during our work to make sure your utilities always remain on."
National Highways pointed to the bridge's age and 'its outdated style of construction'. They added: "Not taking action to repair the bridge risks the safety of road users in the future.
"We believe the best solution is to replace the bridge completely. This is quicker, safer, and more practical than repairing it. Replacing the bridge will mean short-term disruption to residents but it will bring long-term benefits to the area and ensure the safety of road users for decades to come."
An end date for the project has been pencilled in for 2026. Diversion routes will be in place.
National Highways added: "We have worked closely with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to create efficient diversion routes with the aim of reducing disruption to local residents and businesses.
"To help further reduce disruption, the closed section of St Anne’s Road near the former Penny Farthing pub will be reopened for the duration of the construction project and will act as a diversion route. Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to use Angel Street footbridge."
From Monday, January 16, they said a short section of the A57 Hyde Road, approximately 75m in either direction of the junction with St Anne's Road, will be reduced to one lane of traffic under a two-way traffic light system for approximately five weeks. That's to allow United Utilities to conduct diversion works.
The new bridge will meet all required standards for carrying heavy vehicles and remove the current need for load restrictions.
"While we will do everything in our power to reduce disruption as much as possible, we'd like to apologise in advance for any disturbance this work may cause you," added National Highways. "We’re currently working to finalise the programme for the main construction work and aim to start construction work in early 2023. Thank you for bearing with us."
Read more of today's top stories here.
READ NEXT:
-
Parents travelling miles and waiting days to get hold of antibiotics for poorly kids
-
"None of us want to be here but we're struggling": The stories of striking ambulance workers
-
Paramedics open up about the horror of patients dying after ambulance delays
-
Hospital boss issues public warning over 'unprecedented conditions' at A&E
