A busy motorway will be closed for the next two weekends, with a warning issued to drivers to avoid the area.
National Highways has revealed the M56 in Cheshire will be closed near Runcorn as part of a bridge replacement project now said to be nearing completion.
The M56 will be closed in both directions between junction 11 and junction 12 from 9pm this Friday, May 12, until 6am on Monday, May 15. The following weekend, the same stretch will be shut again from 9pm on Friday, May 19 to 6am on Monday, May 22.
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National Highways said its 18-month, £27 million A533 bridge replacement project was close to ending and the closures were necessary because of a 'delicate operation' to demolish the old A533 Expressway bridge, which is right next to the new-build bridge.
The old bridge is sandwiched between the new bridge - which opened to traffic for the first time on Monday, April 17 - and the prominent arched railway bridge carrying the London to Liverpool West Coast mainline.
National Highways said the new bridge would also be closed for safety reasons over both weekends.
A spokesman said: "The new bridge will also be closed during the two weekends - from 7pm each Friday until 6am each Monday - for safety reasons as it is only a few yards from the old one.
"Access to and from the A56 local road will also be closed - again for safety reasons - at its junction with the A533 near the new bridge.
"Clearly-signed diversions for both the bridge and motorway closures will be in place with full information available on the dedicated project webpage."
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