A MAJOR motorway construction site was shut down yesterday after deadly asbestos dust was discovered by workmen.

Contractors closed the site under the M53 Bidston viaduct, in Wirral, amid fears for workers’ safety.

More than 55,000 cars a day use the flyover, which is near the Wallasey tunnel entrance.

Workmen are part-way through an £85m refurbishment and strengthening programme being overseen by Costain.

But a worker on the site, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a concern for the public and for the workforce who are here. You can see all the traffic going over the motorway.

“It’s like a little wind tunnel. You only need the sun to dry it out and the dust will travel. We had a big issue about it when it was found.

“This was delivered Friday last week and now they are spreading it around.

“Someone tested it on site and confirmed it was cement-based asbestos. It’s low grade but it’s still asbestos. All asbestos kills you if you breathe enough of it.”

The asbestos was found in rubble that is believed to have been brought to the site from Liverpool.

It was dumped from around nine lorry loads last week and workers fear there could be up to 90 tonnes of contaminated rubble on the site.

No one realised the danger until it was moved around the site from the start of this week. Workmen have been dividing it up and spreading it to use as hardstanding.

Costain sent up to 100 workers home yesterday after the emergency closure.

The workman added: “They’re doing an emergency clean-up today, Saturday and Sunday.”

He said that last night men in protective clothing were asked to do a fingertip search of the site to try to gather up any asbestos they could find.

He continued: “The Costain main gaffer has come in and said because of the contamination that’s been found, they have no alternative but to do an emergency closure.

“We had a meeting at around 10.30am with Costain, the main contractor, ordering that the site be closed down immediately.”