Giant beams installed for new road viaduct in Widnes
Construction teams are preparing to install a set of giant concrete beams for a brand new road viaduct in Widnes.
Work starts on 13 – 16 January 2017 when the beams will be lifted into position to form the Widnes Loops viaduct, a new high-level road crossing that will carry traffic over the Widnes Loops junction.
Eight pre-cast concrete beams – each measuring up to 31 metres long and weighing around 65 tonnes – will be lifted into place by a 350 tonne crawler crane positioned in the middle of Victoria Road.
A series of weekend and overnight closures are planned for Victoria Road/Waterloo Road while the work takes place to minimise disruption and to ensure the safety of pedestrians, motorists and construction workers.
Closures are scheduled for the following times:
- 7.30pm on Friday 13 January to 5am on Monday 16 January
- 7.30pm on Friday 20 January to 5am on Monday 23 January and
- overnight closures on Monday 16 January, Tuesday 17 January and Wednesday 18 January from 7.30pm to 5am.
A local vehicle diversion (see map below) will be in place and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
The Irwell Street bus stop will be fully operational and a temporary bus stop will be installed on Hutchinson Street after Wandsworth Way.
Hugh O’Connor, General Manager at Merseylink, said: “These essential works form part of the wider construction that is happening at the Widnes Loops junction. Closing the road will allow us to safely construct the new road viaduct above Waterloo Road. As ever, the safety of pedestrians, motorists and our construction workers is our number one priority.
“We are hoping to complete the works as soon as possible in January, however as these activities are weather dependent, timings may change so I’d advise people to check the Mersey Gateway website for the latest information.”
Further closures will take place in February to allow construction teams to lay the concrete deck for the viaduct.
For up-to-date information about road openings and closures visit the Down Your Street section of the Mersey Gateway website.
About Widnes Loops Junction
Widnes Loops will be a major new junction on the site of the former Catalyst Trade Park, which will take traffic to and from the new Mersey Gateway Bridge, the A562 Speke Road towards Liverpool, the A557 Widnes eastern bypass towards the M62 or into Widnes town centre.
Several new roads and bridges will be built in the local area, including a new freight line bridge over the Garston to Timperley Rail Freight Line and two new bridges carrying the main road between Liverpool and the Mersey Gateway bridge over the Widnes Loops junction.
Merseylink will also be planting new trees and hedges as part of a planned landscaping programme to improve the local environment.
