Work to start on M53 motorway

The Highways Agency is combining a £2m bridge repairs scheme at Junction 5 of the M53 with a £2.5m safety project further south along the motorway with an aim at minimising inconvenience to drivers.

The Highways Agency said combining the two projects will reduce the amount of time motorway users in the area are exposed to traffic management and a temporary, 50mph speed limit through the roadworks.

As well as bridge repairs to Eastham Viaduct at Junction 5, the combined project will also deliver a new concrete central reservation safety barrier between Junctions 8 and 9 at Ellesmere Port.

The work between Junctions 8 and 9 will start on Monday 19 September and is due to be completed by Thursday 15 December. The project will also involve renewing lighting and moving it from the central reservation to the verge as well as renewing sections of barrier between the hard shoulder and the verge.

The Eastham Viaduct work involves renewing the waterproofing of the bridge deck base, resurfacing and replacing bridge joints.
The bridge work is set to begin on Monday 26 September and be completed by Wednesday 9 November.

The work on the two projects requires four miles of traffic management, running from a point south of Junction 4 at Bebington to just beyond Junction 9 at Ellesmere Port, and a 50mph speed limit through the roadworks.

The work will also require occasional lane closures with the hard shoulder being used as a running lane and occasional overnight alternate closures of carriageways for the installation and removal of traffic management.

The Highways Agency said the motorway slip roads onto the southbound carriageway motorway at Junction 8 and onto the northbound carriageway at Junction 9 will also be closed until the end of the concrete barrier project from mid-October.

The Highways Agency added that all traffic management and closure diversions will be clearly signed and local residents are being informed about the work.