Four pairs of huge steel beams with a combined weight of more than 250 tonnes will be installed in the next major phase of a £23 million National Highways project to replace a motorway bridge
he braced beams, each pair weighing up to 65 tonnes, will support the new bridge deck, on which vehicles run.
The ageing St Anne’s Road bridge, in Denton, crosses the M67 and is being replaced due to long-term safety concerns. The new bridge will allow unrestricted access for all road users at the location, including eastbound access to the M67.
The bridge also carries vital utility services including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, connecting customers across a wide part of Greater Manchester. Work to re-route these services was completed earlier.
Mangat Bansal, National Highways’ Programme Delivery Manager, said:
“This final weekend closure will allow our teams to safely install the eight steel beams which will carry the new bridge across the motorway.
“It is imperative we keep the travelling public and our workforce safe. To achieve this, we need to close the motorway for the weekend to allow for the heavy machinery needed to undertake this work to be brought in.
“We always strive to minimise disruption, although regretfully delays to journeys are expected. We therefore advise everyone to plan before they travel and allow extra time. We apologise for any inconvenience this work will cause and thank people for their support and patience while we continue our work.”
The latest phase in the project follows final demolition works of the old bridge at the end of last year.
That work saw the successful demolition of the main bridge deck and removal of upper sections of the abutment walls – the supporting structures at either side of the bridge.
Further work has been ongoing to modify the abutment walls and lay the groundwork for the installation of the new steel beams.
The beams measure 34 metres in length, are 3 metres wide and 1.5 metres high and two cranes will be used to safely lift them into place.
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.
This closure will be in place from 9pm on Friday, 4 April to 5am on Monday, 7 April – with the motorway shut between junction 1A at Denton and junction 3 at Hyde during these times.
It is the final planned weekend closure of the motorway for the bridge replacement works.
The next phase will involve the construction of the new bridge deck. Some overnight closures of the motorway will be required to complete this work.
The same diversion routes used for each weekend closure will be in place for this closure. 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 Stalybridge. Drivers on longer through journeys can also consider using the alternative M62 trans-Pennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
