A major reconstruction of the M67 St Anne's Road bridge in Denton is set to start on Tuesday 10 January.

Costing £23 million, the work which involves the closure of the existing bridge and slip road onto the M67 junction 2 will take three years to complete. National Highways said extensive structural repairs were needed to ensure road users' safety for decades to come. 

Having explored "many potential options" they believe the best solution is to replace the bridge completely. This will take less time to complete and is seen as a "safer and more practical" approach. Inevitably it will mean short-term disruption to residents nearby but will bring long term benefits. 

The new bridge will be built to last longer, requiring less maintenance and fewer repairs. Recycling the existing foundations and retaining as much of the existing structure as possible will help to reduce not only the cost - but also the timescale for work to be completed. Pedestrians will have a safer crossing with new safety barriers to be installed. 

Officials from National Highways and the contractors Tilbury Douglas were on hand to explain what the project will entail and to answer any questions at two public information events. Despite the wintry conditions, about 80 residents attended the sessions at St Anne's Church last Friday and Saturday. A letter is also going out to homes in the surrounding area and from this week road signs should be in place giving advance notice of the start date.

Routine safety checks on the bridge - built in the mid 1970s as part of the M67 construction - revealed cracks in the surface which have deteriorated over the past three to five years.

Mike Kalnins, agent for Tilbury Douglas, said ground penetration radar had been used to observe the utilities (gas, electricity, water and broadband) which run under the bridge. The first phase of the work - estimated at 21 weeks - will ensure these services are successfully diverted. The radar had also revealed long-hidden tram tracks at the Hyde Road end.

National Highways is working closely with Tameside Council on diversion routes to limit disruption to residents and businesses.

The section of St Anne's Road near the former Penny Farthing pub, which previously was closed to through-traffic, will be opened up for the duration of the bridge reconstruction.

Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to use Angel Street footbridge.

Work has begun to improve the St Anne's Road - Edward Street junction to enable the movement of heavy goods vehicles delivering to local businesses.

A small section of the A57 Hyde Road will be reduced to a single lane of traffic in each direction to maintain a safe working area for the construction team and road users.

The hard shoulder and lane 1 of the M67 between junction 1A (Denton) and junction 3 (Hyde) will be closed - as a result motorists can expect narrow lanes of traffic on both carriageways.

The junction 2 slip road leading off the motorway near the Lowes Arms may be subject to "occasional" closures. There will also be a few occasions - likely to be three full weekends - when the motorway will be closed completely in both directions which will be publicised well in advance.

For further information and a video presentation, go to nationalhighways.co.uk/m67-st-annes-road-bridge, email info@nationalhighways.co.uk or  call 0300 123 5000. 

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