Greater Manchester’s new St Anne’s Road bridge opens, completing a £23 million motorway infrastructure upgrade project.
A new £23 million motorway bridge has officially opened in Denton, Greater Manchester, marking the completion of a three-year National Highways infrastructure scheme. The unveiling of the St Anne’s Road motorway bridge represents a significant milestone for local connectivity, motorway resilience and the application of modern digital construction practices across the strategic road network.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving four pupils from neighbouring St Anne’s Primary School, joined by the Reverend Philip Brierley of St Anne’s Church, who also delivered a blessing. The event was attended by the project delivery team, civic representatives, school staff and invited guests, reflecting the scheme’s strong community focus.
Improved access and safety on the M67 corridor
The new bridge spans the M67 and provides unrestricted access for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Crucially, it improves eastbound access to the motorway and removes previous vehicle weight restrictions, enabling heavy goods vehicles to cross safely. New barriers and upgraded pedestrian facilities further enhance safety and accessibility.
By replacing the ageing original structure, the scheme reduces the likelihood of unplanned maintenance closures, improving journey reliability both locally and on the wider M67 route. National Highways confirmed that the decision to replace rather than repair the bridge followed detailed structural assessments identifying replacement as the safest, most practical and cost-effective solution.
Managing complex engineering and utilities integration
Delivering the scheme presented significant engineering challenges, particularly due to the bridge carrying critical utility services across Greater Manchester. These included water, gas, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure that had to remain operational throughout construction.
National Highways Project Manager Mangat Bansal said: “It has been a privilege to deliver this scheme and work with the local community. Replacing the motorway bridge is the culmination of a lot of hard work, presenting unique engineering challenges with the bridge carrying vital utility services including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications to customers across a wide part of Greater Manchester.
“We thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst the bridge has been closed for construction.”
Key engineering milestones included the demolition of the original bridge deck using long-reach excavators operating from carriageway level, followed by realignment of abutment walls. The project team then transported and installed steel beams weighing a combined 97 tonnes to support essential utility services, alongside four pairs of braced steel beams weighing more than 250 tonnes to carry the new bridge deck.
Digital construction, collaboration and delivery performance
National Highways worked in partnership with Tilbury Douglas to deliver the project, supported by HW Martin, Concrete Repairs Limited, Amey Consulting and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council’s highways team. Digital planning, coordinated logistics and collaborative working were critical to maintaining programme certainty and managing local diversions effectively.
Mr Bansal confirmed that demolition and construction activities were completed to programme, in line with the original three-year timetable, demonstrating robust project controls and delivery assurance.
Carlos Garcia Ferrer, Project Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “This has been a great scheme to deliver. All those involved in the project, including our teams, supply chain partners and contractors have showcased a high level of technical expertise throughout and can be proud of their achievement.
“A measure of their professionalism is the attainment of ‘Excellent’ ratings in recent successive Considerate Constructors Scheme results, leaving a lasting positive legacy through their community engagement initiatives.”
Sustainability, carbon reduction and social value outcomes
The project achieved an ‘Excellent’ Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 48 out of 50 at its final inspection. Inspectors highlighted exemplary community engagement planning and an effectively driven approach to carbon reduction.
Sustainability measures aligned with National Highways’ Net Zero Carbon Plan and included recycling demolition materials, sourcing suppliers within a 30-mile radius with carbon reduction policies, and installing a solar-powered CCTV security system on site.
Social value initiatives formed a central part of delivery, with the project team raising funds for blood cancer research charity DKMS, supporting Hyde Morrisons’ Foodbank, and sponsoring local school and community events. Educational engagement included working with schools and offering learning opportunities through the national Open Doors initiative.
Restoring local routes and long-term benefits
With the bridge now open, the former St Anne’s Road diversion route via the road near the former Penny Farthing pub has closed to traffic. Local residents and road users can now benefit from improved connectivity, safer crossings and more reliable motorway access.
Completion of the St Anne’s Road bridge demonstrates how digital construction, collaboration and community engagement deliver resilient, low-carbon motorway infrastructure supporting safety, reliability and long-term regional connectivity.
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