Four months of overnight closures planned on M53 in Wirral

The road, which runs through Wirral and Cheshire, will see GBP50m of investment to ensure it is fit for the future. A phase of the work will now see over four months of overnight closures of a section of the motorway. From July 8, overnight closures will affect the section of the road between junction seven at Ellesmere Port and junction ten at Little Stanney.

The closures will occur from 9pm to 6am, Monday to Friday, although National Highways have warned some weekend nights may also be affected. The road will only be closed in one direction at a time, with the work expected to begin on the southbound carriageway. The work will last over four months, until November 27.

Signed diversions will be in place. This phase of the M53 works will see GBP5.2m resurfacing and GBP455,000 drainage improvements works between junctions seven and ten. The programme is part of the Government's GBP27 billion five-year Road Investment Strategy which has allocated GBP8.4 billion for resurfacing carriageways and renewing bridges between 2026 and 2031.

Work on the Wallasey to Chester Road also includes the replacement of four ageing bridges.

Upon announcing the M53 scheme, Amy Williams, National Highways' director for the North West, said: "Parts of the M53 were built almost 55 years ago at a time when traffic volumes and the weight of vehicles were considerably lower.

"This GBP50 million maintenance, renewals and repairs package - including the new bridge decks - will help secure safe, smooth and reliable journeys for businesses, commuters, residents and other motorway users for many years to come."