NEW video has shown the delivery of huge and heavy metal beams as part of a £23million bridge replacement project.

Timelapse footage has been taken during the construction of the replacement Expressway Bridge along the A533 and over the M56.

It shows the moment that beams weighing the equivalent of 45 elephants were delivered and assembled.

The beams, measuring 12.5m wide, took 12 weeks to be built, from cutting the plate and the rolling mill, fabrication and grit blasting stages to transportation to the project site.

The concrete A533 Expressway bridge carries Chester Road and the A533 over the M56 motorway between junctions 11 for Daresbury and Preston Brook and 12 for Runcorn

It is a vital local link, providing access across the motorway to Runcorn from Preston Brook and Northwich.

With the help of AmeySRM, National Highways is replacing the existing structure with a new 67m concrete bridge, consisting of a single two-lane carriageway and a combined footpath and cycleway.

The replacement of this bridge will ensure an increased life span of more than 120 years for road users, maintaining safety in the long term.

A substantial part of the project will be built off-site to minimise disruption, with the existing bridge being kept open while construction work takes place.

Sam Whitfield, National Highways project manager, said: “The delivery of the beams marks a key milestone for the A533 bridge replacement project.

“They are an integral part of this project and will provide our customers with a replacement structure which is designed to last for more than 120 years.

“Construction of the new bridge will continue adjacent to the M56, minimising disruption to drivers, and it will be open for traffic next summer.”

On completion, traffic will be transferred to the new structure to continue the flow of traffic and allow for the demolition of the existing bridge structure.

The new bridge is expected to be open to traffic in summer 2023.