OVERNIGHT closures on the Thelwall Viaduct will taken place on Thursday and Friday as work starts to replace joints on the bridge.


The Highways Agency will bring in closures on the northbound side from 10pm to 5am on Thursday and on the southbound from 10pm to 5am on Friday so contraflows can be put in place.


The £2.5 million scheme to replace six bridge expansion joints is expected to take nine weeks.


The joints allow the bridge to move safely during changes in the weather and different traffic conditions.


To keep four lanes of the motorway running in each direction, a part-contraflow system is being installed.


The closures will be between Lymm and Croft interchanges and diversions will be signed on the alternative routes.


From Saturday 1 March, drivers will find only three lanes open on the southbound bridge with one further southbound lane on the northbound bridge running against four northbound lanes.


All the lanes will be narrowed and a 40mph speed limit will be in place backed by safety cameras.


A dedicated project page has been set up on the Highways Agency’s website at highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m6-thelwall-viaduct.