Crucial motorway used by 55,000 drivers every day to close ALL weekend for bridge to be replaced in £23million project
A BUSY motorway used by some 55,000 drivers each day is to be closed all weekend – with a bridge set to be replaced.
Part of the M67 motorway is set to shut as the National Highways looks to ramp up the replacement of a bridge in Tameside – in a project costing £23million.
The removal and replacement of the ageing St Anne’s Road bridge, in Denton, has been in the works since 2023, with demolition work beginning that summer.
Last year’s work saw the successful demolition of the main bridge deck and removal of upper sections of the abutment walls.
It was completed in autumn 2024 with a series of weekend closures – but now the next phase of the scheme will see four pairs of huge steel beams installed.
This means the M67 will be forced to close in both directions between junctions 1A at Denton and three at Hyde as a result of the works, from 9pm on Friday, April 4, through to 5am next Monday, April 7.
The beams, which measure 34 metres in length, three metres in width and 1.5 metres high, will require two cranes to be used to safely lift them into place.
Mangat Bansal, National Highways’ programme delivery manager, said: “This final weekend closure will allow our teams to safely install the eight steel beams which will carry the new bridge across the motorway.
“It is imperative we keep the travelling public and our workforce safe.
“To achieve this, we need to close the motorway for the weekend to allow for the heavy machinery needed to undertake this work to be brought in.
“We always strive to minimise disruption, although regretfully delays to journeys are expected.
“We therefore advise everyone to plan before they travel and allow extra time.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this work will cause and thank people for their support and patience while we continue our work.”
The beams, which each weigh up to 65 tonnes, will be used to support the St Anne’s Road bridge deck on which vehicles run.
It is being replaced due to long-term safety concerns, while the new bridge will allow unrestricted access for all road users at the location.
This includes eastbound access to the M67.
The bridge is also vital to utility services – including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, which connect people across a wide part of Greater Manchester.
Thankfully, this weekend will be the final weekend closure for the project.
However, a number of overnight closures are expected to take place while the new bridge deck is constructed.
Traffic running between Manchester and Sheffield will be diverted along the A635 and A6018, through Ashton and Stalybridge.
According to the department of transport, recent data claims the M67 sees an average daily traffic flow of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles, with a peak of 55,000.
A relatively short motorway, the M67 serves as an important link between the M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road and the A57, which continues towards Sheffield via the Snake Pass.