A MOTORWAY bridge believed to have been defective for almost 40 years will finally be replaced in a scheme set to take 16 months.
National Highways will demolish the structure spanning the M67 at St Anne’s Road in Denton and build a new one in a major project.
However, before work can even start some vital parts of infrastructure will need to be diverted and the road where the former Penny Farthing pub site stands, which had been closed off, will be reopened.
National Highways say: “As well as carrying St Anne’s Road over the motorway it also carries numerous utility services, including a large water main.
“These will need to be diverted before we can start work on the bridge.
“We’ve examined many potential solutions while considering the inevitable disruption to the local community and road users.
“We believe the best option is to replace the bridge completely. It’s the quickest, most practical and safest option.
“We’re currently working to finalise the programme for the main construction work, so we can’t provide any confirmed work dates at the moment.”
Despite not being able to provide any dates for when work will take place, National Highways did reveal the preparation phase has brought some big decisions.
A diversion route, taking motorists further up the A57 Hyde Road before turning on to Edward Street, then on to St Anne’s Road, will be out in place.
As well as reopening St Anne’s Road, improvement work on the junction between there and Edward Street will also be done.
That will see parking bays installed and parking restrictions put in place on St Anne’s Road, from where it meets Edward Street to its link with Erlesmere Avenue, limiting the availability of on-street parking in some locations for about 16 months.
Bays will be placed close to the Edward Street junction and have the capacity to accommodate six cars in total.
They will be open to everyone in the area, with work starting in mid to late May, taking about three weeks.
I work at St Annes school, where will I be able to park my car? It’s hard enough at the moment and I’m told the one they’re creating will only have about 13 spaces. Have they thought about staff being able to access the school snd also deliveries to our kitchen? The roads are just not suitable for large vans and lorries.
Bus