Weaver Viaduct

Weaver Viaduct
View, looking east towards junction 12, in May 2005
Coordinates	53°19′N 2°43′W / 53.31°N 2.71°W / 53.31; -2.71Coordinates: 53°19′N 2°43′W / 53.31°N 2.71°W / 53.31; -2.71
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

Location of Weaver Viaduct in Cheshire

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.

View in March 2008

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[]

• History