The new Fallowfield Loop Bridge is to be installed over Hyde Road over the weekend of Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June.
Weather permitting, the operation to lift in the new bridge is due to start at 6am on Saturday 27 June, continuing through to 12 midnight on Sunday 28 June.
During this weekend, a road closure will be in place from the junction of A57/Reddish Lane to the junction of A57/Chapman Street, to allow the work to be carried out safely. Traffic management and diversions, with appropriate signage, will be in place.
The bridge replacement scheme has been designed to solve a congestion pinch point in the Gorton area, where Hyde Road was narrowed from four lanes to two by the previous bridge.
The new bridge re-completes the Fallowfield Loop cycling and walking route with a bow string arch structure, which will be around 25 metres long, four metres high and with four metres width for people crossing on foot or by bike. The bridge will be delivered in a single piece and will be installed in a single lift. After installation, finishing work will be required before the pedestrian and cycle bridge can be opened to the public in July.
Residents are being asked to remain mindful of the ongoing need for social distancing and not to visit the site of the works during the bridge installation. Time-lapse footage of the installation will be captured and posted online after it has been successfully completed.
Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: “The bridge replacement scheme for Hyde Road will reduce the congestion which has blighted this area for too long, impacting not just on commuters whose journeys are delayed, but also on Gorton residents in terms of diminished air quality.
“The new and improved bridge will also enhance the Fallowfield Loop cycling and walking route and we are very grateful to people travelling by bike or on foot in this area for bearing with the inconvenience while waiting for the new bridge to be installed. We look forward to reopening this route to them next month, after adding the finishing touches.
“We really appreciate the patience of local residents while the bridge lift is completed and will continue to make every effort to minimise disruption while the work is completed.
“Because the bridge lift will be an exciting moment, we will be capturing and posting time-lapse footage online, so that people who are interested in seeing the operation for themselves can safely enjoy watching it from their homes.”
