Work to complete bridge over M6 to move step closer in April

The £43 million bridge is being built through the roundabout at junction 19 of the motorway at Knutsford.

And after January’s huge operation to lift dozens of huge steel bridge beams into place, the project team is now ready to pour the concrete foundations for the bridge deck.

The major work means there will be no access to or from the A556 from junction 19 of the motorway between Friday night and Sunday morning during the first two weekends after Easter – from Friday, April 9 and Friday, April 16.

Amazing aerial shots of the work to install a bridge over the M6 near Knutsford.

Motorway drivers will be kept on the move at all times with a two-lane ‘up and over’ diversion using the junction roundabout during the day on Saturday 10 and Saturday 17 April.

Highways England project manager Khalid El-Rayes said: “This is an exciting phase of the project when we’ll be laying the foundations for the carriageway over the bridge beams we installed back in January.

“We’ve worked hard to minimise disruption to people’s journeys. The motorway will be closed at junction 19 on the two Saturdays during the day but we’re installing a short diversion via the roundabout allowing drivers to leave and immediately re-join the motorway using the exit and entry slip roads.”

Huge bridge beams which will carry the concrete deck were craned into place during two weekend motorway closures in January.

This month’s work will be taking place from 8pm on Friday, April 9, until 6am on Sunday, April 11, and between 8pm on Friday, April 16, and 6am on Sunday, April 18.

An artist impression of what the completed M6 bridge will look like.

There will be overnight lane closures on the M6 as well as the 6am to 8pm Saturday daytime closures of the motorway under the new bridge beams with the two lane ‘up and over’ diversion in place.

There will be no access to the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon bypass from junction 7 of the M56 during the Friday to Sunday working periods.