Jun 14 2007
The 'Cumberland Gap' edged towards being closed when a £5.2 million bridge which will carry a new motorway over the River Esk was inched into position.
Engineers used cranes, cables and hydraulics to launch the 800 tonne bridge across the river today. It will carry the southbound carriageway of the M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill extension over the Esk.
Bridging the river is a major milestone in the £175 million construction project that will link the motorway system from Glasgow to the south of England.
Ziad El-Balbisi, Highways Agency project manager, said:
"The M6 extension is a major construction project. Launching the bridge over the Esk is a considerable engineering achievement in its own right and its success is a tribute to all those who have worked on this part of the project.
"To put it into perspective, the bridge is 180 metres long - something like the length of one and a half football pitches - as well as being 17 metres wide. Its weight is the equivalent of a fleet of 800 cars."
The bridge has been launched in two stages with the first being in mid-May. Great care has been taken to protect the environmentally sensitive area of the river, including using biodegradable oil.
Work on the new motorway began in June 2006 and is on target for completion by the winter of 2008. Once complete it will improve safety and reduce congestion on the 5.8 mile stretch of road at the end of the M6.
The A74, which is used by more than 44,000 vehicles a day, has long been regarded as the missing link in the motorway network between England and Scotland. It is being upgraded to motorway status, with a new road being installed alongside for local traffic.
Building work is close to several areas of environmental interest including the Upper Solway flats and marshes and three moss land county wildlife sites, which will be protected and improved during construction.