Lorry drivers on the Wirral in Merseyside can now join the southbound M53 at Moreton for the first time in years after bridge repairs were completed at the weekend.
The entry slip road for the southbound M53 at junction 2 re-opened on Friday (7 August) following completion of repairs to a bridge which carries the slip road over the northbound and southbound motorway carriageways.
A second bridge, carrying the southbound exit slip road over the motorway carriageways, has been completely replaced in the £2.8 million project which started in February. The project is set to be completed by the end of next week (Friday 21 August) when finishing works to the new bridge are completed and the exit slip re-opens.
Highways Agency project manager Mark Mosley said:
“We are pleased to say drivers can now join the southbound M53 from junction 2 – in the case of some heavy goods vehicle drivers, for the first time in several years.
“We would like to thank local people and other drivers for their patience over the last few months during the slip road closures and carriageway closures but know they will welcome the lifting of the restrictions introduced for safety reasons in 2011.”
The old slip road bridges had weakened with age requiring a weight restriction and single lane running along the slip roads. The Highways England project – which required the slip roads to be closed during the repairs – is restoring the junction to its full capacity of 2 running lanes and a hard shoulder.
In planning the scheme Highways England had anticipated closing the motorway around junction 2 for 3 whole weekends but the work is being completed with only 1 weekend closure – back in April for the demolition of the old slip road bridge – ever required.
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