Delays of over an hour on M56 as roadworks cause chaos – latest …

About the £27 million bridge replacement project

The M56/A533 Expressway Bridge is a concrete bridge that carries the Chester Road combined with the A533 over the M56 motorway.

The bridge is located between junctions 11 and 12 and is a vital local link, providing access across the M56 to Runcorn from Preston Brook and Northwich.

Highways England replacing the existing structure with a new 67m two-span concrete bridge, consisting of a single two-lane carriageway and a combined footpath/cycleway as part of a £27 million project.

They say the replacement of the bridge will 'ensure an increased life span of over 120 years for road users, maintaining safety in the long term.'

A substantial part of the new bridge was built off site and the existing bridge was kept open whilst the new one was under construction. The new bridge was lifted into position last Autumn. It is now open and ready to use.

As the 18-month-long project nears its conclusion the motorway is being closed for two weekends, this weekend and next weekend (12-15 May and 19-22 May) to allow workers to demolish the old one.