Milestone for £55m road work

May 22 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A KEY route between Wirral and North Wales was due to mark another milestone in its £55m refurbishment today.

Traffic was due to be diverted on to the new Parkgate Bridge this morning as another stage in the development of the A5117 is completed.

According to the Highways Agency, as well as helping traffic move between England and Wales, the opening of the bridge will mark the end of the temporary diversion for road users. It should make journeys along the A540 Parkgate Road more reliable – and also mean that work can focus on building the new main road under the bridge.

The single span steel and concrete bridge is nearly 30 metres long, 25 metres wide and weighs 160 tonnes.

Stephen Greenhalgh, Highways Agency project manager, said: “I will be pleased to see the new Parkgate bridge in place and taking traffic – it is a sure sign that the scheme is progressing and we are on the last lap to completion.

“Weather conditions have been unfavourable for many months but our contractors have been working hard and we expect to have the new road open by the end of the year.”

The 5km dual carriageway is intended to reduce congestion for traffic using the key route between North West England and North Wales.