M53 bridges

We’re working on several bridges and structures along the M53 in the Wirral, between Ellesmere Port and Moreton. These include Upton Road, Clatterbridge north and south, Raby Hall and Eastham Viaduct.

Start date 18 May 2026

End date August 2029

Cost Estimated £70m

How we'll work

Our programme starts with joint repairs on Eastham Viaduct from 18 May to September 2026.

We'll also work on:

M53 Upton Road bridges - from Summer 2026 to Summer 2027
M53 Clatterbridge north and south - Dates to be confirmed
M53 Raby Hall bridge - Dates to be confirmed

We'll begin bridge joint repairs on Eastham Viaduct near junction 5 on Monday 18 May 2026 for around four months.

We'll begin bridge joint repairs on Eastham Viaduct near junctions 4 and 5 on Monday 18 May 2026 for around four months.

For safety, we'll work under 24/7 narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit

We only need a limited number of overnight closures required to setup and remove roadworks.

We expect minimal disruption.

We're replacing Upton Road bridge, which crosses the M53 between junctions 2 and 3, west of Birkenhead.

We'll build the new Upton Road bridge one half at a time. While one half is under construction, the remaining half will only be open to buses, emergency services and pedestrians.

Work starts in June 2026 and is expected to finish by winter 2027.

We’re working to finalise the programme and will be holding Public Information Events prior to the main works starting and the bridge closing.

June to August 2026

Enabling works with day and night lane closures.

From late August 2026

The main works require four full weekend closures of the M53, including two for demolition and two for construction.

We expect the first of these closures to be in September. We'll confirm all dates as soon as possible.

When the motorway closes, we'll provide both local and motorway diversions to spread traffic across routes.

We'll also use noise and dust suppression to reduce the impact on nearby residents.

The Clatterbridge north and south bridges are at junction 4 on the M53 near Bebington, where the motorway meets the A5137 Brimstage Road and B5151 Mount Road.

We're replacing both bridges in two phases first south, then north.

We'll share traffic management and project dates as soon as we can.

Raby Hall bridge is situated near junction 4 on the M53, west of Bromborough.

Work on this structure will take around 12 months to complete and will be closed for all traffic.

Dates will be confirmed at a later date.

Project information

We're investing in the M53 to keep this important route safe and reliable for drivers across the Liverpool City region.

Several bridges along the M53 were built in the 1970s and now need significant work. Replacing bridge decks and maintaining them now reduces the risk of emergency closures in the future.

M53 bridge locations.

Our programme also includes resurfacing to improve road condition for years to come.

We're improving the M53 corridor, which keeps Wirral and the wider city region connected. Our work supports everyday travel, businesses and economic growth.

Rather than treating each job separately, we're combining multiple schemes into one joined-up programme. This means less disruption overall.

Where we can, we're building bridge decks off site and installing them during short, planned full weekend closures. This is faster and safer than traditional methods.