Runcorn bridge demolition

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Bryn666
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Re: Runcorn bridge demolition

Post by Bryn666 »

c2R wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 08:04
Barkstar wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 21:56
The expressway is still quiet, though the bridge was quite busy over the weekend with locals keen to give it a go on foot, cycle or car. Unless there is a huge surge in traffic I don't see the RA being a problem. The majority of cross river traffic will take the prescribed route to the new bridge. A few HGVs probably heading into Widnes or Speke are 'cutting the corner' off an using the old bridge. In mileage terms it save little or nothing but may make accessing their destination easier. Or maybe they also just felt like giving it a go as well. The whole thing could have been neater if there'd been room to create a more direct road through to the new bridge. Junction 11A plans have been scrapped and 12 is ugly.
I don't really understand why 11A was scrapped - the changes that have been made to the interchanges either side of the Weston Link must have cost a significant amount in comparison,as they've fundamentally re-built both interchanges.
The plans for 11A were a bit naff to be fair; had a direct free-flow from the M56 onto the Southern Expressway been considered without the fiddly add-ons this might have worked better.
Bryn
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c2R
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Re: Runcorn bridge demolition

Post by c2R »

Bryn666 wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:27
c2R wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 08:04
Barkstar wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 21:56
The expressway is still quiet, though the bridge was quite busy over the weekend with locals keen to give it a go on foot, cycle or car. Unless there is a huge surge in traffic I don't see the RA being a problem. The majority of cross river traffic will take the prescribed route to the new bridge. A few HGVs probably heading into Widnes or Speke are 'cutting the corner' off an using the old bridge. In mileage terms it save little or nothing but may make accessing their destination easier. Or maybe they also just felt like giving it a go as well. The whole thing could have been neater if there'd been room to create a more direct road through to the new bridge. Junction 11A plans have been scrapped and 12 is ugly.
I don't really understand why 11A was scrapped - the changes that have been made to the interchanges either side of the Weston Link must have cost a significant amount in comparison,as they've fundamentally re-built both interchanges.
The plans for 11A were a bit naff to be fair; had a direct free-flow from the M56 onto the Southern Expressway been considered without the fiddly add-ons this might have worked better.
Yes, agreed, I did remind myself of that by looking at our wiki page earlier...!
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Barkstar
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Re: Runcorn bridge demolition

Post by Barkstar »

Bryn666 wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:27
c2R wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 08:04
Barkstar wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 21:56
The expressway is still quiet, though the bridge was quite busy over the weekend with locals keen to give it a go on foot, cycle or car. Unless there is a huge surge in traffic I don't see the RA being a problem. The majority of cross river traffic will take the prescribed route to the new bridge. A few HGVs probably heading into Widnes or Speke are 'cutting the corner' off an using the old bridge. In mileage terms it save little or nothing but may make accessing their destination easier. Or maybe they also just felt like giving it a go as well. The whole thing could have been neater if there'd been room to create a more direct road through to the new bridge. Junction 11A plans have been scrapped and 12 is ugly.
I don't really understand why 11A was scrapped - the changes that have been made to the interchanges either side of the Weston Link must have cost a significant amount in comparison,as they've fundamentally re-built both interchanges.
The plans for 11A were a bit naff to be fair; had a direct free-flow from the M56 onto the Southern Expressway been considered without the fiddly add-ons this might have worked better.
I agree, the plans weren't at all elegant - no roads are in Runcorn :? Some of is due to the topography and some to the sprawling sixties development as a Liverpool overspill town. There can't be a town in Britain with more dual carriageways to its name.
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wrinkly
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Re: Runcorn bridge demolition

Post by wrinkly »

Cheshire Live has some historic pictures of the Silver Jubilee Bridge:

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/ch ... r-19966521
Rambo
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Re: Runcorn bridge demolition

Post by Rambo »

A few more pics of the abandoned spur off the old spiral bit.
Attachments
IMG_7172.JPG
IMG_7175.JPG
IMG_7178.JPG
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