Two weekends of traffic disruption ahead as half-a-mile stretch of the M53 near Ellesmere Port is closed for essential repairs

A half-a-mile stretch of the M53 near Ellesmere Port will be closed over the next 2 weekends while essential work takes place to repair 2 motorway bridges.

Contractors for Highways England need to resurface, rewaterproof and install new safety barriers on the bridges which carry the motorway over Upper Mersey Street and the Shropshire Union Canal.

The southbound carriageway will be closed between junctions 8 and 9 from 8pm on Friday 25 September until 6am on Monday 28 September. The northbound carriageway is also due to be closed during the same times the following weekend.

A diversion will take vehicles along the A5032, which runs alongside the motorway, and road users are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Mark Mosley, Project Manager at Highways England, said:

“We’re carrying out several schemes at the same time on the bridges to keep disruption to a minimum, and will be closing a short stretch of the M53 during 2 weekends when traffic levels are much lower.

Drivers will be able to follow a clearly signed diversion which runs on the A5032, parallel to the motorway, and we hope to be able to open the motorway sooner if possible.

When the project is completed, drivers will benefit from smoother journeys and new safety barriers, and the bridges will remain in good shape for many years to come.”

Some lane closures will remain in place on the slip roads until the project is completed by the end of November.

Main image: merseydeealliance.org.uk