Engineering Focus

Back in August 2015 I reported on the project underway to upgrade the existing road connections that will eventually connect the M56 and A562 Speke Rd to the new bridge. At the time the sites in Runcorn and Widnes were just being prepared for work to commence. Now however a great deal have been achieved since then and some elements of the project are gearing up for completion. The map shows the new route traffic will take from the M56 to Liverpool. In Widnes work to connect the A562 to the new bridge reached a crucial stage, in March ( 2016 ) the link which connects the current Jubilee bridge to the A533 was permanently closed. This closure was to allow engineers to begin demolition of the existing flyover which crossed Ditton Junction. Now work is underway to construct a new flyover which will take traffic over Ditton Junction and onto the new approach viaduct leading to the new bridge. The images below show some of the progress which has been made to build a new road which...

When most people picture Chester they usually think of the famous clock, the "Roman" walls or the Tudor/Mock Tudor buildings. It's true to say Chester has a rich past which helps to attract tens of thousands of tourists and it's more laid back feel, combined with leading high street stores attracts many tens of thousands of shoppers each year. However in Chester's recent past there have been some architectural misses which have spoiled the look and feel of some corners of the city.  The first purpose built market was constructed in Chester next to the Town Hall in 1826, and as with most buildings had evolved over the decades. However in 1970 what has been described as " civic vandalism of the worst kind " ( 1 ) commenced with the demolition of the existing building to make way for the modern brutalist concrete structure we see today. The rear of the Town hall is now lost in a sea of angular concrete and brick structures which do not fit al...