Work starts on £1.1m Oldham bridge refurbishment

Eric Wright Civil Engineering has started work on a £1.1m bridge refurbishment project for Oldham Council.

The work will make the structure safer and more resilient for motorists.

The 45-week project delivers essential maintenance and structural repair works to strengthen the Middleton Road (A669)/Oldham Way (A627) bypass bridge, which has corroded and weathered over the years.

Specific works include repairing the steel and concrete, resurfacing and waterproofing to limit further deterioration and prevent similar damage re-occurring, as well as building a new reinforced concrete central reserve.

The complex project will be delivered in sequence to keep traffic moving on the busy highways both on the bridge and below, by completing half of the structure before repeating on the other half.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering has completed many bridge and highway schemes across the North West, including bridges across the Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal, and a £1.7m project to demolish and replace the M62 Greystone Footbridge near Huyton in Merseyside.

The former ‘Sausage Bridge’ was replaced with a contemporary footpath and cycleway on a single symmetrical cable-stayed deck structure and was highly commended by the Institution of Civil Engineers at the North West Civil Engineering Awards.

Diane Bourne, Eric Wright Civil Engineering managing director, said: “This is a complex operation and our site teams are working closely with Oldham Council to ensure a smooth delivery and minimise disruption.

“This investment will also deliver real benefits by providing a safer and more reliable infrastructure network that’s futureproof for commuters.”

Work on the bridge is due for completion in November 2018.