Booom!
M60 Bridge to be blown up on Saturday
A controlled demolition is to be used to remove a 1,000 ton bridge over the River Mersey in Manchester overnight on Saturday as part of the work to widen the M60 motorway.
Work is taking place this week to weaken the 78 metre long three span bridge and in just 6.5 seconds the bridge will be broken into seven sections - with just two of the sections falling into the river.
Contractors will then quickly remove the demolished bridge from the river and riverbank.
A 200 metre exclusion zone will be set up around the demolition site and a letter is to be sent to all residents in the immediate area to make them aware that the demolition will take place between 9.00pm and 10.30pm
The bridge was part of the former clockwise exit slip road at Junction 7 where it joins Chester Road and has been replaced by a new bridge supporting the widened motorway and exit slip road.
The motorway is being widened between Junction 5 at Northenden and Junction 8 at Stretford as part of a £102 million project to reduce congestion and improve safety.
The M60 motorway will be closed between Junction 7 and Junction 5 clockwise and between Junction 7 and Junction 6 anti-clockwise from 9.00pm on Saturday 7 August until 5.30am on Sunday 8 August while the work is carried out. The police will also close the A56 Chester Road for a short period while the demolition takes place.
Highways Agency Project Manager Graham Dakin said: "It has been decided to remove the bridge by a controlled demolition because this is the quickest and least disruptive means.
"This method of demolition has been agreed with the Environment agency and it is planned that just two sections will fall into the river and be quickly removed.
"Motorists are warned to allow extra time for their journey and follow the clearly signed diversion routes.
"A letter is being sent to all local residents to alert them to the 'controlled demolition' of the bridge and stay clear of the area which will have a strict exclusion zone in place."
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