Mersey Gateway roadworks update – 27 June 2016
Essential work on the Mersey Gateway Project means the following new road, lane and footpath closures will be in place over the coming days and weeks. Read more →
New MSS arrives in Runcorn
Merseylink’s new bridge building machine has begun to arrive on site in Runcorn with construction teams taking delivery of the first shipment of containers.
The MSS will be used to build the south elevated approach viaduct, which will connect Runcorn’s main road network to the Mersey Gateway bridge. It is the same specification as ‘Trinity’, the machine that is currently building the north approach viaduct in Widnes.
Workers have already started to assemble the machine on site at Astmoor. It will be put together around the first pier of the approach viaduct, approximately 12.5 metres above the ground.
When fully assembled, it will measure 157m long – the length of around one and a half football pitches – 8m high and 22m across at its widest point. And at 1700 tonnes the steel structure will weigh the equivalent of 140 double decker buses.
Halton schools are taking part in a competition to name the machine, which is due to start work in September this year.
Halton students join Merseylink on work experience
Students from Halton schools are joining the Mersey Gateway Project on work experience this summer.
Twelve Year 10 students from schools across Runcorn and Widnes including Sandymoor Free School, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College, Wade Deacon High School, The Heath School and Weaverham High School will be taking up placements.
They will spend time with Merseylink’s expert teams learning about the civil engineering techniques used for the main bridge and road construction, as well as materials, communications and the environmental side of the project. They will also take part in health and safety inductions and will be given a tour of the site as part of their work experience.
Neil Wilcock, Employment and Skills Coordinator for Merseylink, said: “We’re delighted to host these placements, which offer a real insight into the science and engineering behind Halton’s new bridge. I’d like to think that these young people will be inspired by their time with us and that their experience may help them decide on their future career paths.”
Merseylink has hosted 35 work experience placements since the project started in May 2014.
Mersey Gateway roadworks upate – 20 June 2016
Essential work on the Mersey Gateway Project means the following new road, lane and footpath closures will be in place over the coming days and weeks. Read more →
Wing traveller machine starts work on outer road deck of Mersey Gateway north approach viaduct in Widnes
Work started on the outer road deck of the Mersey Gateway’s north approach viaduct today as the first of over 60 concrete pours took place.
Construction crews start work on the first concrete pour for the outer road deck of the north approach viaduct in Widnes. Photo: David Hunter
A wing traveller machine is being used to build the outer road lanes on either side of the north approach viaduct in Widnes. It will follow the project’s movable scaffold system (MSS), which is constructing the central part of the carriageway. Read more →
