Traffic bosses are warning of closures on the M6 as repairs to Thelwall Viaduct are carried out. The motorway will be shut next weekend to fix a defective bridge joint near the slip road of junction 21.
Emergency repairs were carried out when the problem first came to light in April. The work will require the full overnight closure of the southbound carriageway next Friday and Sunday (June 17 and 19), and the closure of two of the four lanes on during the daytime on Saturday June 18.
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Bridge joints are mechanisms in the carriageway which allow the bridge deck to expand and contract safely with changes in the weather. The motorway will be closed from:
- 9pm Friday 17 June to 6am Saturday 18 June - full closure of the southbound carriageway between junction 21a at Croft Interchange and junction 20 at Lymm Services for the installation of traffic management;
- 6am Saturday 18 June to 9pm Sunday 19 June - permanent repairs to the joint taking place with two lanes running along the southbound carriageway past the roadworks;
- 9pm Sunday 19 June to 6am Monday 20 June - full closure of the southbound carriageway between junction 21a and junction 20 for the removal of the traffic management and re-opening the carriageway to normal four lane running.
A spokesperson for National Highways said: "During the overnight closures there will be no access to the southbound M6 from junction 21 for Warrington and Irlam. A diversion for the two overnight carriageway closures will operate between junction 21a of the M6 at Croft Interchange and junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford - via the eastbound M62, anti-clockwise M60, westbound M56 and southbound A556.
"Drivers planning to use the southbound M6 during the day on Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19 should expect congestion when the work is taking place, with two of the four lanes closed to drivers past the roadworks on Thelwall Viaduct. National Highways is advising drivers to check traffic conditions along the motorway before setting out on journeys and choose an alternative route should they wish to avoid congestion."
