Crossing to open for pedestrians
CYCLISTS and walkers could be able to cross the Silver Jubilee Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes from the end of the month.
Halton Borough Council said the part-time weekday closures which have been in place during repairs, repainting and refurbishment since October 2017 are now nearly finished.
A spokeswoman for the local authority said the paintwork was a ‘mammoth effort’ in itself, and involved installing scaffolding so layers of paint could be removed to expose the bare steel.
White wrapping was placed around the bridge sections while work was under way during what Halton Council called ‘unique, challenging and often very windy conditions’ above the River Mersey.
Adding too much weight could have ‘potentially have risked the integrity of the entire bridge structure’, the spokeswoman said, meaning it could have fallen down.
At the project’s peak, around 80 workers were involved, with the paintwork completing an area of 20,318 sq m in specialist durable paint expected to last around
● without an alternative route, a full closure of the bridge to carry out the maintenance needed would have meant severe disruption, so it was just not an option.
“The opening of the Mersey Gateway changed this, providing a unique opportunity to close the bridge for the length of time that was needed to give the Silver Jubilee Bridge this much deserved care and attention.
“With the painting and cable replacement now complete, work will move on to its next phase, which will include the reconfiguration of the bridge deck, reducing the number of lanes from four to one in each direction, with a dedicated cycle lane.
“It is expected that the bridge will reopen to vehicles in summer-autumn 2020, coinciding with completion of the work to delink the Silver Jubilee Bridge and create a new roundabout on the Bridgewater Expressway in Runcorn.
“Until the footpath is re-opened pedestrians and cyclists can continue to use the shuttle bus services that operate from 7.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.”