A major £27 million programme of roadworks on the M6 Thelwall Viaduct is set to begin today, with drivers being warned to prepare for more than a year of traffic restrictions on one of the North West’s busiest motorway links.
National Highways is replacing the bridge joints on the Thelwall Viaduct in Warrington, reports DM News, the structure that carries the M6 across the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey between junctions 20 and 21.
Although the scheme officially begins today, the first work will take place underneath the viaduct at Warrington Road rather than immediately causing major restrictions on the motorway itself.
More significant disruption will begin later in September as National Highways starts installing the traffic-management system required for the project.
From 12 October, a 24-hour contraflow will operate on the M6 between junctions 20 and 21, with a temporary 40mph speed limit applying on both carriageways.
During the daytime, National Highways plans to maintain four lanes of traffic in each direction, with part of the southbound carriageway used to carry one of the northbound lanes.
Between 10pm and 5am, four lanes will remain available southbound while northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane during the first phase of the work.
The northbound exit slip road at junction 21 is expected to remain open throughout.
Before the main contraflow begins, drivers face a series of overnight lane restrictions and complete motorway closures while the new layout is installed. Lane closures begin on 21 September, followed by further restrictions throughout the remainder of September and early October.
The M6 northbound between junctions 20 and 21 is scheduled to close completely overnight on 28 and 29 September.
Full southbound overnight closures are then planned for 30 September and 1 October.
Another complete northbound overnight closure is scheduled for 11 October immediately before the permanent contraflow comes into operation.
During full closures, National Highways says the signed diversion will use the M56, M60 and M62, meaning drivers should expect significantly longer journeys.
(Picture: National Highways)
