DRIVERS are being advised that important overnight safety work will be taking place along the southbound M6 over Thelwall viaduct near Warrington at the weekend.
National Highways is replacing two damaged bridge joints in the southbound carriageway. Three lanes of the four-lane southbound carriageway between Junction 21 and Junction 20 will need to close for this work between 7 pm on Saturday (16 December) and 10 am on Sunday (17 December).
The southbound entry slip road at junction 21 will also need to close during the same time period due to the proximity of one of the bridge joints. Drivers wishing to join the southbound M6 at Junction 21 should instead join the northbound carriageway, travel up to and exit at junction 22 and then access the southbound M6 via the junction roundabout.
While the lane and slip road closures are expected to be lifted by 10 am on Sunday, drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys. Drivers are also advised that at times they may not see people working in the area – while road workers should have completed their repairs in the early hours of Sunday morning, the concrete used to secure the bridge joints will need several hours to cure before lanes and the entry slip road can re-open.
Bridge joints are mechanisms in the carriageway which allow bridge decks to expand and contract with changes in weather conditions. They can be damaged by overweight heavy goods vehicles and other wear and tear – sometimes leaving a pothole in the carriageway.
Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional Twitter feed.
🚧 M6 weekend closure alert
🌉 We’re closing 3/4 lanes on the M6 southbound carriageway to replace damaged bridge joints at Thelwall viaduct near #Warrington
📅 7pm Sat 16th to 10am Sun 17 December.
Delays are expected, please plan ahead.
More info: https://t.co/5Nc9kjCY0e pic.twitter.com/5msMwyz1Al
— National Highways: North-West (@HighwaysNWEST) December 13, 2023
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