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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jess Molyneux

The 'famous' Merseyside 'sausage bridge' and how it was replaced

For more than 40 years, a Merseyside footbridge was best known by pedestrians and commuters by its unusual nickname.

Opened in 1973, the Greystone footbridge, affectionately known as the "sausage bridge," linked communities on both sides of the M62 motorway between junctions 4 and 5 near Huyton.

Connecting Greystone Road with Roby Road and Bowring Park Road, it was compared to a sausage due to its "brown colour and rounded shape."

READ MORE: Samuel L Jackson and Liverpool legends - Famous faces and 'wonderful' memories of lost city-centre venue

For years it was an instantly recognisable landmark when venturing closer to the city-centre.

But despite being repaired many times over the years, around seven years ago, it reached a point where it needed replacing.

At the time, residents were given notice of their last chance to see the sausage bridge. A new structure now stands in its place, but many still refer to the crossing with the nickname used for generations.

On July 2, 2015, the ECHO reported how the "sausage bridge" across the M62 near Huyton was to be replaced that summer.

The council provided an artist's impression of the modern replacement bridge, which would be white, illuminated at night and also cater to cyclists.

At the time, a council spokeswoman said the footbridge had "helped generations of the local community safely cross the M62", but that it had now "reached the end of its serviceable life".

She added the new bridge would also "give visitors to the borough a real sense of arrival as they pass through this impressive gateway".

On July 27, the bridge closed for good as work began on a replacement. The following day, a massive diversion in place as The Rocket shuts down for the weekend for demolition.

By August 1, the M62 'sausage bridge' near Huyton was demolished and the motorway was closed that weekend as work to remove the structure was carried out.

The moment it was demolished was also captured in an amazing time-lapse video.

On social media at the time, ECHO readers reacted and said farewell to the "famous" bridge.

Daz Sinclair said: "The sausage bridge was a beast!"

Evie Dee commented: "Sad sad day."

Syl Wilson wrote: "I'm sure It will still get called the sausage bridge forever and new generations will wonder why haha. Just like 'home and bargain.'

HM Hayley said: "Ah no ! Not the sausage bridge . So many memories."

Jennifer Isabella Maisey Christian said: "Love the sausage bridge."

Tor Shaw-Twigg commented: "Nooooooo they can't do this to the sausage bridge it's famous !! *sobs. It's not Guna be a sausage no more it's Guna be a regular bridge #savethesausage."

Angela Huxley posted: "Nooooooo! Not the sausage! You always know you're almost home as you pass the sausage!"

And Rachel Fitzgerald wrote: "Bring back the sausage bridge, it may have been ugly, but I loved that bridge as a kid and it had so many memories!"

But other readers also found humour in the news.

Johnny Gee said: "Making a bridge out of sausage was never gonna work long term."

Kirsty-Lucy Watson said: "Old one was a right banger."

And Cheyne Stokes posted: "This is just the Wurst news."

What do you miss most about the past? Attractions, lost venues or perhaps the way of life. Take a look at our nostalgia survey

By October 2015, the replacement for the bridge began to take shape.

The Rocket was closed that weekend whilst the new footbridge was installed and work took place late into the night with the central deck of the structure arriving by lorry about midnight.

It took 19 workers 12 hours to demolish the footbridge, and a further 32 hours to remove the 100 tonnes of steel and 1,100 tonnes of rubble.

Three metres wide and able to cater for cyclists, it was initially due to open that week, but instead it was announced that it would open to pedestrians and cyclists from November.

Knowsley Council told the ECHO at the time that it was because work around the bridge was still being finished and that the crossing would be unveiled during the week of November 16.

Do you remember the old "sausage bridge?" Let us know in the comments section below.

It was Malvern Primary school pupils who were the first across the new Greystone Footbridge after the cutting of the red ribbon on November 18, 2015.

A Knowsley council cabinet member said it was an "impressive gateway to Knowsley."

Mike Murphy, Knowsley cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “I’m delighted that the new Greystone Footbridge is now open. Having looked around it, it is a truly impressive structure and gateway into Knowsley.

"It is a significant investment in the infrastructure of Knowsley, and a huge piece of work. I would compliment the building firms for doing it all in such a short space of time."

Since, pedestrians and commuters will have noticed the bridge lit up in honour of different local causes and national charities.

Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.

But despite its new look across the motorway, many still refer to the Greystone Footbridge as "the sausage bridge."

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