£27m M56 bridge opens in Cheshire
As of this morning, motorists are able to drive between Runcorn and Preston Brook using the new A533 Expressway Bridge.
The bridge, which crosses over the M56 between Junction 11 and Junction 12, will replace an older bridge that has reached the end of its serviceable life, according to National Highways.
Sitting next to its predecessor, the new, 67-metre bridge was built by AmeySRM. Amey SRM is a joint venture between infrastructure services and engineering company Amey and construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine.
The two-span bridge took 18 months to construct and has a gross development value of £27m. The A533 Expressway Bridge comprises a single two-lane carriageway alongside a combined footpath and cycleway.
The replacement bridge was lifted into place in November last year. Credit: via National Highways
While the bridge opened for motorists at 6am today, it will be closed from 7pm until 6am on weekdays this week, as well as during this weekend, for surfacing work and the painting of new road markings.
The old bridge will be demolished over the course of two weekends, starting on 12 May.
Sam Whitfield, the project manager for the scheme at National Highways, said that the opening the bridge constitutes “future-proofing connectivity over the M56 for many years to come”.
The building of the bridge was a team effort, with multiple subcontractors assisting. Here is a list of those involved, according to AmeySRM:
- Ainsty Timber Merchants
- Amey Traffic Management
- Asset International
- Bauer Foundations
- Briton Fabricators
- Egerton Recovery
- Ekspan
- Huyton Civils
- Huyton Surfacing
- J McCann
- Jepotik
- L& R Road Markings
- MPB
- PP O’Connor
- Sarens
- Versco
- Virtus
I use this bridge at least once a week, often twice. I always smiled at the politeness of the road signs and the fact that a Pelican crossing was put up for the workforce to cross safely. I was amazed at the way it was built and put into place. Remarkable planning and engineering. I look forward to using it soon.
By Joyce Sandles
Just need to get those J11a slip roads built now to ease traffic on J11 and 12
By Wolfie
27M for a frigging bridge, typical rip off britain
By Anonymous
Incredible build very impressive well done to all who worked on it I live close by and have seen the progress
By Sharon