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M53 Bidston Moss Viaduct
M53 Bidston Moss Viaduct
- Status
- Current
- Located in
- Area 10
- Scheme type
- Other
The Project
Bidston Moss Viaduct is a 730 metre long box girder bridge which carries the M53 over the A554 roundabout and the Birkenhead to New Brighton railway, and is jointly owned by the Highways Agency, Wirral MBC and Mersey Tunnels.
The Viaduct was opened in 1970. It is the main route into the Kingsway Tunnel under the River Mersey and is used by over 50,000 vehicles daily including 3,000 heavy goods vehicles.
During 1998/99 the viaduct was strengthened to meet new legislation introducing 40 tonne vehicles onto the country's roads. However during this work the need for further strengthening works was identified and as a safety precaution heavy goods vehicles were restricted to the inside lane of the main carriageway, a 3.5 tonne limit imposed on the outside lane and the entry and exit slip roads reduced down to one lane. A further restriction in early 2005 reduced the capacity to cars only on the viaduct.
An initial strengthening contract carried out between November 2005 and April 2006 returned the viaduct to HGV's on the inside lane and a 3.5 tonne limit on the outside lane.
What is Happening Now?
Limited concrete repairs have been completed and a monitoring regime has been put in place to ensure the continued operational safety of the structure.
Latest Update
All technical surveys, studies and assessments are nearing completion. As a result it is proposed to carry out a multi million pound scheme to strengthen the existing structure while keeping disruption to the existing traffic to a minimum. Tenders to bid to undertake the work have been invited and it is anticipated that a contract will be awarded towards the end of 2008/early 2009. The initial period of the contract will involve detail design of the strengthening works and it is anticipated that this should take some 12 to 18 months; the strengthening works would then be carried out with intended completion towards the end of winter 2011/2012.
Works will include steelwork strengthening, painting (inside and outside the boxes), new parapets, new lighting, limited resurfacing to slip roads and more extensive concrete repairs to the underside of the structure and piers.
We will provide updates as regularly as possible but if you have any further enquiries please email: BidstonMoss_Viaduct@highways.gsi.gov.uk
Or contact the Highways Agency Information Line on: 08457 504030
