Weaver Viaduct
Weaver Viaduct | ||
|---|---|---|
Clearance above 60 feet | | |
| No. of lanes | 3 each direction Slip roads on the eastern end | |
| History | ||
| Designer | Husband and Company | |
| Constructed by | Christiani-Shand | |
| Construction start | 1 April 1968 | |
| Construction end | February 1971 | |
| Construction cost | £3.2m | |
| Opened | Sunday 21 February 1971 | |
| Statistics | ||
| Daily traffic | 112,185 (2017) | |
| Location | ||
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The Weaver Viaduct, in the north of
History
It was built as part of the first section of the M56 North Cheshire Motorway, also initially known as the Cheshire East-West Motorway, five miles from junctions 14
The contract was given in early March 1968, to be finished by September 1970, to the Christiani-Shand consortium (its headquarters were at Romney House, on Marsham Street in London) for £3,146,387.[1]
Design
It was designed from 1964 to 1967.[2] It was designed by Husband and Company Consulting Engineers of Sheffield.
Construction
Work started on the viaduct on 1 April 1968. Work began on the eight-mile motorway in December 1968. The bridge crosses a flood plain. The foundations had 2,376 reinforced concrete piles. Thirty two 125-foot concrete 100-tonne beams were put into place in July 1970; the concrete beams were made by Matthews & Mumby of Windmill Lane, Denton, Greater Manchester.[3] The project manager for Christiani-Shand was Mr A.K. Robertson.[4]
31-year-old Harry Russon was killed instantly on the bridge construction on Wednesday 6 August 1969.[5][6]
The construction of the five-mile motorway was completed in December 1970. The five-mile motorway opened for traffic at 11am on Sunday 21 February 1971; the viaduct would open with hard shoulders; the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 was not originally built with a hard shoulder. The section to Preston Brook at junction 11 opened on Thursday 23 September 1971.[7]
Structure
Due to its position, on the eastern edge of the exposed Cheshire Plain, there can be high crosswinds over the bridge, and the bridge may be closed as a result. Many high-sided vehicles have had accidents on the bridge.
It has a 222 ft span over the River Weaver and a 125 ft span over the Weaver Navigation. There are 30 approach spans of 90 ft each.
References
- ^ Staffordshire Sentinel Thursday 14 March 1968, page 18
- ^ Dates of design at National Archives
- ^ Runcorn Weekly News Thursday 25 June 1970, page 1
- ^ Runcorn Weekly News Thursday 18 February 1971, page 3
- ^ Runcorn Weekly News Thursday 14 August 1969, page 6
- ^ Runcorn Weekly News Thursday 11 September 1969, page 20
- ^ Cheshire Observer Friday 19 February 1971, page 25