The M67 between Denton and Hyde will be closed for a full weekend later this month as the demolition of the St Anne's Road bridge reaches a critical stage.

National Highways says the £23 million bridge renewal scheme is progressing well but the latest phase will involve shutting down the motorway between junction 1a (Crown Point, Denton) and junction 3 (Hyde town centre) from 9pm on Friday August 18 until 5am on Monday August 21. 

Signed diversion routes will be in place with traffic which would normally be on the motorway diverted on to the A57 Hyde Road-Manchester Road.
The closure means that contractors can safely cut out a section of the bridge and take it away. Demolition started in June and will take about four months to complete.

The work involves demolishing the eastern side and remodelling the supporting walls so that a new section of the bridge can be built to carry vital services including a water main across the M67.

Routine safety checks last year revealed cracks in the surface of the bridge were steadily becoming worse. Having explored "many potential options" for major structural repairs it was decided the best solution was to replace the bridge completely over the next three years. National Highways said this would be "quicker, safer and more practical" than repairing it.

The existing road bridge built in the mid 1970s was closed in January together with the junction 2 slip road next to St Anne's Church. Before the demolition could begin, United Utilities and Cadent had to divert the area's water, gas and electricity supplies. In the autumn two beams will be installed to carry utility services - this work will see further carriageway closures on the motorway which will be publicise when the dates are confirmed.

For further information go to nationalhighways.co.uk/m67-st-annes-road-bridge  email info@nationalhighways.co.uk or phone 0300 123 5000 (Customer Contact Centre).