A bridge too many: M56 crossing set for switch

National Highways’ newest bridge is set to open next week after an 18-month, £27m bridge replacement project.

The new A533 Expressway bridge across the M56 near Runcorn in Cheshire between junctions 11 and 12 is expected open to traffic by 6am on Monday (17 April), the government-owned company said.

The current bridge, just two metres to the side of the new one, will close this weekend and will be demolished later this spring.

The new, 67-metre, two-span concrete bridge consists of a single two-lane carriageway and a combined footpath and cycleway.

National Highways project manager Sam Whitfield said: ‘A bridge here is vitally important to residents, commuters and businesses on both sides of the motorway and we are delighted the new bridge will open next week – future-proofing connectivity over the M56 for many years to come.’

National Highways has advised drivers that there will be no access over the M56 via either bridge at the weekend.

The old bridge will close at 9pm on Friday night and work will take place over the weekend to link the A533 carriageways on both sides of the motorway to the new bridge.

With the old bridge sandwiched between the new one and the arched railway bridge carrying the London to Liverpool West Coast mainline, a ‘delicate operation’ will be needed to demolish it and return the M56 underneath to normal running conditions.

The bridge demolition will require two full weekend closures of the motorway and the new A533 Expressway bridge and is currently scheduled for the weekends beginning Friday May 12 and Friday May 19.