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Thursday 14 Jul 2005

PRESCOT ROAD BRIDGE IN LINE FOR BOOST

Region & Route:

A £1m project is set to start this weekend to strengthen the Prescot Road bridge in Liverpool. Network Rail will begin the six-month project on the bridge, which carries the A57 over the Bootle Branch railway, on Sunday, July 17. The works are part of the national Bridgeguard 3 assessment programme which ensures that rail over road bridges around the country can safely carry 44 tonne lorries. Temporary concrete slabs and width restrictions were put in place to ensure the bridge could remain open until the works were carried out. Once the work is complete the width restrictions will be removed and the bridge will return to its full capacity. Peter Strachan, Network Rail Route Director, said: “This is essential work which will bring long-term benefits to the travelling public in terms of a more reliable and safer road and rail network.” As a consequence of the work, the bridge will be closed on the following dates: 8pm 6 August to 10am 7 August 9pm 13 August to 10am 14 August 9pm 20 August to 10am 21 August 8pm 24 September to 11am 25 September 9pm 1 October to 10am 2 October 9am 8 October to 10am 9 October The main work to the carriageway is planned to take place during a five-day period between 7pm 21 October and 6am 27 October, when a full road closure will be in place. During this time engineers will work round the clock to cast a new bridge deck over the top of the existing one. While the road is closed a fully signed diversion will be in place. The work is expected to be completed by the end of November.