Weaver Viaduct
Weaver Viaduct | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°19′N 2°43′W / 53.31°N 2.71°WCoordinates: 53°19′N 2°43′W / 53.31°N 2.71°W |
OS grid reference | SJ527794 |
Carries | M56 |
Crosses | River Weaver Weaver Navigation |
Locale | Frodsham, Cheshire |
Maintained by | Highways England |
Characteristics | |
Design | Box girder bridge |
Material | Reinforced concrete |
Total length | 3,186 ft (971 m) |
Longest span | 222 ft (68 m) |
No. of spans | 33 |
No. of lanes | 3 each direction Slip roads on the eastern end |
History | |
Designer | |
Construction start | December 1968 |
Construction end | December 1970 |
Construction cost | £3.2m |
Opened | 21 February 1971 |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | 112,185 (2017) |
Location | |
The Weaver Viaduct, in the north of Cheshire on the M56, is one of the longest concrete viaducts on the British motorway network.
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 Hapsford Interchange to 12 at the A557.
Design[]
It was designed from 1964-67.[1] It was designed by Husband and Company Consulting Engineers of Sheffield.
Construction[]
Work began on the eight-mile motorway in December 1968. The bridge crosses a flood plain. The construction of the five-mile motorway was completed in December 1970. The five-mile motorway opened for traffic on 21 February 1971. The section to Preston Brook at junction 11 opened in September 1971.
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[]
External links[]
- 1970 establishments in England
- Bridges completed in 1970
- Bridges in Cheshire
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Concrete bridges in the United Kingdom
- M56 motorway
- Motorway bridges in England