M6 traffic warning as bridge repairs to shut lanes at Thelwall Viaduct this weekend

Emergency repairs to a defective bridge joint will take place this weekend on the southbound carriageway of the M6 along Thelwall Viaduct. The work will begin at 9pm tonight (Saturday April 9th) and end at 5pm tomorrow.

The work requires the closure of three lanes – leaving only lane four open to traffic. The bridge joint is across lane two and lane three of the southbound carriageway. It is very close to where drivers join the southbound M6 from the slip road at junction 21 so the slip road will also be closed between 9pm on Saturday evening and 5pm on Sunday.

Bridge joints are mechanisms in the carriageway which allow the bridge deck to expand and contract safely with changes in the weather. This weekend's work will allow National Highways to plan a full repair at a later date which is likely to require a full overnight closure of the motorway over the viaduct. Carrying out the temporary repair this weekend will also reduce the risk of sudden, unplanned lane closures at peak times.

National Highways says it has planned this weekend’s work to minimise inconvenience to drivers heading back from the Grand National at Aintree. Drivers heading from Merseyside to Manchester for the Manchester City and Liverpool Premier League football match should not be affected by the lane closures.

Drivers planning to use the southbound M6 between junction 21 and junction 20 should expect congestion when the work is taking place, especially during the day on Sunday. Drivers passing the roadworks on Sunday should note that roadworkers will have been working overnight and will have left the site to allow concrete around the repair to set properly before lanes can safely re-open.

National Highways is advising drivers to check traffic