All hands on deck for next phase in £23 million bridge works

It will be a case of all hands on deck for the next phase of a £23 million National Highways project to replace a motorway bridge.

For the main bridge deck, on which vehicles run, and supporting structures at either side of the St Anne’s Road bridge in Denton, Greater Manchester, are to be demolished.

The ageing bridge crosses the M67 and needs to be replaced. A three-year project to do that began in January last year.

Work has progressed well with two huge steel beams, weighing a combined 97 tonnes, successfully installed in February. These carry vital utility services including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, connecting customers across a wide part of Greater Manchester. With utility diversions complete, the next phase to remove the bridge deck can begin.

For the safety of road users and the workforce involved, the section of the M67 running under the bridge will need to be closed in both directions for two weekends. These closures will be in place from:

• 9pm on Friday 4 October to 5am on Monday 7 October
• 9pm on Friday 8 November to 5am on Monday 11 November

The motorway will be shut in both directions between junction 1A at Denton and junction 3 at Hyde during these times. 

Mangat Bansal, National Highways’ Programme Delivery Manager, said: “Preparations for the next phase of works have gone well. Following the installation of the beams, all utilities across the bridge have been connected to existing networks without disruption to customers, so we are now able to demolish the bridge deck.

“It is imperative we keep the travelling public and our workforce safe. To achieve this, we need to close the motorway for the two weekends to allow for the heavy machinery needed to undertake this work to be brought in.”

Two huge excavators with long-reach arms and fitted with hydraulic jaws will operate from motorway level to remove the deck, one situated on each carriageway. Debris will be removed and recycled.

The second weekend closure is required for the removal of the abutment walls, which support the ends of the bridge.

Mangat added: “We always strive to minimise disruption to customers, although regretfully delays to journeys are expected over the weekends. We are advising everyone to plan before they travel and allow extra time to complete their journey. We apologise for any inconvenience this work will cause.

“We would again like to thank the local community, including road users, for their support and patience while we continue our work to provide the new bridge.” 

The main diversion route for drivers during the weekend closures 

The same diversion routes used in February will be in place again for both weekend closures. The routes have been created in consultation with the emergency services and local authority and will be clearly signposted.

Drivers travelling between Manchester (M60) and the A57 Snake Pass and A628 will be able to follow a signed diversion running north of the M67 between junction 24 of the M60 and Mottram in Longdendale - using the A635 and A6018 via Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybrdge.

Drivers on longer, through journeys can also consider using the alternative M62 trans-Pennine route between Manchester and Leeds. 

Live traffic information is available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional X feed.

More information about the project is available on a dedicated webpage at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/m67-st-annes-road-bridge