Highways Agency

North Elevation of Sale Water Park Footbridge

Sale Waterpark Footbridge - Overnight Erection of Footbridge Deck Sections

Sale Waterpark Footbridge - View looking South Towards The Pylon

Sale Water Park Footbridge looking from Sale Water Park. The imposing ramps on the North side are visually striking. The new facilities provide pedestrians and cyclists a welcome replacement for Cow Lane Subway

View across Sale Water Park Footbridge towards Arnesby Avenue

Aerial view looking North of Sale Water Park and the new widened motorway and footbridge

Aerial view looking South of Sale Water Park Footbridge

South Elevation of Mersey Valley Footbridge

South elevation of Mersey Valley Footbridge during erection

Erection of Pylon Tower for the Mersey Valley Footbridge

Aerial view looking North of Mersey Valley Footbridge

Aerial view looking West of the new footbridge that will be opened for public use later this year

Preparing to lift Dunmow Walk Footbridge into place during an overnight closure of the motorway

Transporting Dunmow Walk Footbridge during an overnight closure of the motorway

Looking north towards Manchester University playing fields from the new Dunmow Walk Footbridge. Although not open to the public, the new bowstring arch is an attractive new structure visible from local footpaths

Carefully positioning Dunmow Walk Footbridge during an overnight motorway closure

Placing bridge beams using a 1000 tonne crane during a recent overnight closure of the A5103 Princess Parkway

Beams were placed overnight on the West slip road bridge at Junction 5. This structure has the deepest beams on the scheme and the longest span.

New bridge beams for the new West Junction 5 Bridge spanning over the A5103 Princess Parkway.

Construction of the new bridge at Junction 6 viewed from the north side of the motorway. This new structure is being constructed from the 'top down'. The earth still requires to be excavated from beneath the new structure.

Preparing the steel reinforcement bars for the construction of part of the new Junction 6 Bridge

Aerial view of the Junction 6 roundabout. As can be seen, the road layout from the A6144 Old Hall Road has been dramatically altered to allow the construction to take place. Traffic currently travels in both directions around the roundabout to access the motorway.

Aerial view of Junction 7 looking from the east. Sale Water Park can be seen at the top of the photograph, the new bridges over the River Mersey and the new bridge over the A56 Chester Road. Some of the new slip roads are now in use at this location.

The new bridge over the A56 Chester Road looking Northbound into Manchester. On the left is the new clockwise on slip.

Construction of the new bridge over the A56 Chester Road

Aerial View of Junction 7 looking northbound into Manchester.

Aerial view of Junction 8 looking in a westerly direction. The new east bridge is now taking shape and will soon be ready for use. A new circular roundabout will replace the existing dumbbell shaped roundabout at this junction.

The new Junction 8 east bridge under construction.

Constructing the abutments for the new Junction 8 east bridge.

Junction 8 East Bridge beams partially completed. Beams were placed on the East slip road bridge overnight with a striking sunrise to mark the completed beam lifts.

The new Fairy Lane Bridge almost completed. This may be open for use to the public at Easter time after which the existing Fairy Lane Bridge will be taken down.

Placing the new concrete bridge beams for the new Fairy Lane Bridge during an overnight closure of the motorway. The existing Fairy Lane Bridge can be seen adjacent to the new structure.

Constructing the tie in to Fairy Lane

Old and new, aerial view of both Fairy Lane Bridges. The orange colour is the waterproofing to the new bridge structure and will be overlaid with carriageway surfacing before the bridge is opened for use. Golf Road to the left of the picture has been reconstructed away from the motorway to facilitate the widening.

Aerial view looking east of Fairy Lane Bridge.

Polystyrene Block Filling In Widened Embankment At Junction 7 Anticlockwise Off-Slip

Installation of CFA Vertical Concrete Columns

Ground improvement work at Junction 5. Layers of plastic matting are placed on the ground as the ground is built up to strengthen the earth that will form part of the new Junction 5 anticlockwise onslip.

To avoid a high-pressure gas pipeline, the embankment slopes have been steepened to the east of Junction 5 by the use of reinforced earth. Band drains have been drilled into the ground to dissipate ground water and speed up the settlement process and reinforcing layers of plastic mat have been used to reinforce the ground.

A reinforced concrete slab with deep piled foundations has been constructed over the landfill waste at Stretford Tip on the north side of the motorway between Junctions 8 and 7. The concrete slab has been waterproofed (red colouring) and overlaid with carriageway surfacing.

The screen mounding and fencing erected adjacent to Arnesby Avenue.

Beams arrived in sections on long vehicles, and supported by two cranes, were bolted together across the river. The new Junction 7 clockwise offslip onto the A56 Chester Road can be seen on the left of the photograph. These bridges have been constructed using 'weathered' steel beams that do not need painting due to the restricted access over the river.

Aerial view of the construction of the new bridges over the River Mersey.

Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip Bridge Prior to Demolition

Demolition of Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip Bridge (07/08/04)

Removal of Debris at Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip Bridge

Demolition of a Steel Portal Sign Gantry

Aerial view of Junction 8 showing the new widening works to the North of the junction

Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip - erection of first beam over the River Mersey

New Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip Bridge Nearing Completion

Aerial view to the East of Junction 7 showing the new widening to Boundary Viaduct over the Bridgewater Canal and the GMPTE Metrolink Line.

The foreground view shows the existing Bridges over the River Mersey, and the new Junction 7 Clockwise Off Slip Bridge.

Aerial view of Junction 7 with the Mersey Valley Footbridge under construction in the distance

Aerial view of Junction 6 showing the construction of the new bridge within the Junction, and the new Sale Waterpark Footbridge in the distance

Construction of the New widened Boundary Viaduct over the Bridgewater Canal and the GMPTE Metrolink Line

Aerial view of the construction of the new widened Boundary Viaduct over the Bridgewater Canal and the GMPTE Metrolink Line

The relocated and reconstructed Dovecote structure now stands proud in Walkden Gardens in Sale.

Aerial view of the motorway looking west with a view of Sale water Park and the new footbridge, the reconstruction of Junction 6, and Fairy Lane Bridge.

Extending Boundary Viaduct over the Metrolink line and the Bridgewater Canal.

Aerial view of the extended Boundary Viaduct which spans over the Metrolink Line and the Bridgewater Canal.