Closure of A49 extended
Cheshire West & Chester Council said replacement of Barmere bridge on the A49 near Bickley Moss will restart by 14 September.
Demolition of an existing bridge started in July and was due to last until October.
However, technical issues with piling for the new bridge resulted in a delay and piling foundation work for the new steel piles will begin by next week.
Barhale Construction is the contractor carrying out the work.
The council said replacing the old bridge is necessary due to its poor condition which has rendered it unsafe to carry large lorries of up to 44 tonnes.
The delay also extends the period that the A49 will be closed; however, work will be continued at weekends, which aims to speed up the delivery of the replacement bridge.
Cllr Ann Wright, from Cheshire West & Chester Council, said: "Because of the technical problems work at the bridge has not taken place since mid August.
"Engineers considered opening the A49 until the new piling work began, but ruled against this because earlier attempted bore holes for the piles could have weakened the foundations of the existing bridge, which is already in a poor condition.
"The new steel piles have been ordered and the piling foundation work begins by 14 September. The new bridge works should end by early November. We apologise for the delay which was caused by unexpected problems.
"I would like to reiterate that businesses are still open and are well sign posted."
So that means that the reopened Cholmondeley Arms will be all mine for another few months then?
By Real Ale Drinker
if they had done proper ground investigations before starting work then the pile problem would not have happened, sound like trying to save a penny at the start has cost…pounds. problems are always in the ground in any Project. who’s paying the bill?
By Moonshine
Can’t believe that one of our major trunk roads needs to be shut for all this time. Could have built a bypass in less time!
By Jaybee
This is a major road closure with a very, very long diversion. There should be signs at Shrewsbury and Warrington advising of it.
I tried to drive from just north of Shrewsbury to Manchester airport last week, unaware of this closure. it was just ridiculous. By the time you are signed off the A41 northbound back towards the A49 you are almost in Chester, having been diverted at Whitchurch. I didn’t bother trying to follow the yellow signs in case my passsenger’s flight took off while their driver was stuck in a ditch near Tarporley; just went up the A41 all the way to Chester and then east along the A55/M53/M56. At least a 25 mile detour. I appreciate the work needs doing but for goodness sake……..
By James Williams
We go down to our caravan in Shrewsbury every weekend, and have had to endure the 8 mile or so diversion from the motorway from Wigan, it is absolutely ridiculous, I agree with Mr. Williams, surely more thought could have been put into the works prior to closing a major road.
By VALERIE HANKIN
it is ridiculus even with delay how long it is taking the railway bridge in whitchurch replaced in two days not over two months make it off site and fit it
By thomas
This is a shambles. The closure signs start much too late (should be Shrewsbury and Warrington) and they don’t even give an indicative timescale for how long the closure would last. Are they even working on it??
By Late Again
We had a more than six hour drive to visit a terminally ill relative, we did’nt know this road was closed until we got to the roundabout nr Tarporly and a long, long diversion with hardly any signs did.t help. Better info or signage further away would help – it’s major road, for goodness sake.
By BPF
The work should have been given to a japanese contractor they certainly know how to repair roads quickly even following an earthquake and tsunami
By Anonymous
This has taken far too long . Heads must roll.
By Billy B
Typical clowns, they said it would take a month Bunch of wasters
By Nigel WIlliams
Can any one confirm if the A49 open yet? (20 November 2011)
By paul houghton