Major motorway used by 130k drivers every day to close for ENTIRE weekend with crucial bridge shut – see full diversion

A MAJOR motorway used by thousands of drivers every day will face disruption with a crucial bridge shut all weekend.

National Highways is set to begin the second phase of works at the Lightwater Interchange near the M3.

Drivers using the M3 have been warned to brace themselves for delays with essential repairs underway.

The focus for repairs is now on the East Bridge (A322 southbound), said National Highways.

Crews will be installing new joints to help extend the bridge’s lifespan.

The full closure of the East Bridge will start at 9pm on Friday, April 4, and will last until 6am on Monday, April 7.

National Highways is closing one bridge and slip road at a time to try to limit disruption as much as possible and so that traffic can still flow in one direction.

The following diversion routes will be in place.

East Bridge (A322 southbound) closures:

• A322 northbound, left onto A30 (London Road)
• Left onto B3015 (The Maultway)
• Left onto B311 (Red Road), rejoining the A322 at Gordon Boys Roundabout

To join the M3 atFrimleyInterchange (junction 4) during East Bridge closures:

• A322 Northbound
• Left onto A30 (London Road)
• Left onto A331 then joining at Frimley Interchange (junction 4).

It comes after news that a motorway used by some 55,000 drivers each day is to be closed all weekend – with a bridge set to be replaced.

Part of the M67 motorway is set to shut as the National Highways looks to ramp up the replacement of a bridge in Tameside – in a project costing £23million.

The removal and replacement of the ageing St Anne's Road bridge, in Denton, has been in the works since 2023, with demolition work beginning that summer.

Last year's work saw the successful demolition of the main bridge deck and removal of upper sections of the abutment walls.

It was completed inautumn2024 with a series of weekend closures – but now thenextphase of the scheme will see four pairs of huge steel beams installed.

This means the M67 will be forced to close in both directions between junctions 1A at Denton and three at Hyde as a result of the works, from 9pm on Friday, April 4, through to 5amnextMonday, April 7.

The beams, which measure 34 metres in length, three metres in width and 1.5 metres high, will require two cranes to be used to safely lift them into place.

It is being replaced due to long-term safety concerns, while the new bridge will allow unrestricted access for all road users at the location.

This includes eastbound access to the M67.

The bridge is also vital to utility services – including water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, which connect people across a wide part of Greater Manchester.

This weekend will be the final weekend closure for the project.

But a number of overnight closures are expected to take place while the new bridge deck is constructed.

Traffic running betweenManchesterandSheffieldwill be diverted along the A635 and A6018, through Ashton and Stalybridge.