National Highways plans to start work on £1m worth of new safety barriers to three bridges along the M602 in Salford next week.
Langworthy Road, Derby Road and Weaste Road bridges – all between junctions 2 and 3 of the motorway – will each see the installation of new safety fencing, along with 1.8-metre-high parapets capped with protective steeples.
The English strategic road authority also plans to resurface the footpaths on the bridge and states that it expects to introduce parking restrictions backed by new road markings.
Earlier this year, new guidance developed by National Highways in partnership with UKRLG outlined best practice for suicide prevention on roads and bridges. One aspect of the new advice for fences and safety barriers was that vehicle restraint systems should be increased to a minimum of 1.8 metres high and include additional anti-climb features. Pedestrian restraint system minimums are also now expected to be 2.3 metres high.
Starting on 28 November, work is expected to take six months, with the first phase beginning on Derby Road, which will be closed in total until 18 December. Following this, early January will see temporary overnight traffic lights put in place on both Langworth Road and Weaste Road bridges.
National Highways project manager, Ian Spence, said: ‘Local people will appreciate this is an important safety project. While we are doing all we can to minimise inconvenience to bridge users during the work some restrictions, especially overnight, will be in place.'
