There will be motorway closures over two weekends in November to allow the installation
of two new bridges which will carry the Manchester Metrolink extension to the Airport. The first bridge will be installed over the M60 over the weekend of 3rd and 4th November with the second one over the M56 on the 24th and 25th November. Thanks to the design of the bridges being used longer closures are not necessarily and these weekends have been chosen to avoid major events in and around the City.
There will be traffic diversions put into place with the M60 being closed between junctions 5 and 8 from 2200 on Saturday 3rd November until 2200 on Sunday 4th November and the M56 closed between junctions 2 and 5 from 2200 on Saturday 24th to 2200 on Sunday 25th
November. On both occasions the motorway will be closed from 2100 on the Saturday evening (before full closure happens at 2200) and will remain in place until 2200 on the Sunday evening.
Philip Purdy, TfGM Metrolink Director, said: “We’ve worked very closely with the Highways Agency to plan for these closures. The dates have been agreed by all parties and avoid any major events, like Premier League football matches. These new ‘rail over road’ bridges mean a full closure of each motorway is essential but our contractor, MPT, has been able to limit the impact of each bridge lift to a single 24-hour window in each case by
developing a very particular design. The lack of a ‘central pier’ on either bridge means we avoid the need for phased working – which would mean long-term temporary roadworks and long-term lane closures. Between now and the closures, we’ll be making sure we give residents, businesses and motorists advance notice of the work and give them the chance to plan and prepare accordingly.”