M53 Upton Road bridge
We're replacing Upton Road bridge, which crosses the M53 between junctions 2 and 3, west of Birkenhead. Work starts Summer 2026 and we expect to finish by Winter 2027.
Latest updates
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01 June 2026
Work in June
Utility diversions from 1 June
Utility (gas, water, electricity and suchlike) diversions will start on Monday 1 June before we replace the bridge deck.
We'll need lane closures on both north and south carriageways and some footway closures while this work takes place.
We're closely co-ordinating our work with utility providers to minimise disruption to the local community.
Public Information Events
We're holding public engagement events at Wirral Golf Club, CH43 6TS on:
- Thursday 18 June from 2pm – 6pm
- Saturday 20 June from 10am – 2pm
This is your opportunity to find out more about the scheme from our team.
United Utilities will be present to answer questions about their works in the local area.
Main work - from Autumn 2026
Our 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 Autumn. We'll confirm dates as soon as we can.
Unforeseen events like bad weather can affect our work. We'll try to give you the latest information on this page.
Project information
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Traffic management
Closing Upton Road bridge
For safety reasons, we'll close the bridge to general traffic while we work.
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:
- pedestrians
- emergency services
- public transport
We're working closely with Wirral Council and Liverpool City Region to limit disruption to residents and businesses.
M53 closures
We'll need to fully close the M53 in both directions between junction 2 and 3 to demolish old bridge decks and install new ones.
We'll plan these closures for weekends (9pm Friday to 5am Monday) to avoid disrupting commuter traffic.
We may also need to close the M53 between junction 2 and 3 overnight.
We'll give you details of these closures on in advance on this page.
Overview
Upton Road bridge needs extensive repairs due to its age and its outdated style of construction.
If we don't repair the bridge, we risk the safety of road users in the future.
Disruption to the local community and road users are factors we've considered when deciding how to repair the bridge.
The best solution is to replace the central span of the bridge completely. This is quicker, safer and more practical than repairing it.
Though causing some short-term disruption to residents, this solution will
- bring long-term benefits to the area
- ensure the safety of road users for decades to come.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.Sign up for updates!
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