Works to start on a key section of Nicholas Street/St Martin’s Way in Chester

The Nicholas Street viaduct, on St Martin’s Way in Chester, will have a contraflow in place for six weeks from 21st September for essential structural inspections.

On Sunday 21 September: 

The ring road between Fountains Roundabout and the 1966 bridge will be totally closed in both directions between 8pm and 6am while contraflow arrangements are put in place.

From Monday 22 September:

The inside carriageway of the viaduct will be closed between the Fountains Roundabout and the 1966 bridge on St Martin’s Way.  A contraflow will be in place with both inbound and outbound traffic using one carriageway to minimise disruption, but delays are expected, particularly at peak times, so please avoid the area if possible.

To enable traffic to rejoin the carriageway safely when it opens up again after the 1966 bridge, King Street will also be closed at its junction with St Martin’s Way.

After approximately three weeks the works will reverse and the outside carriageway will be closed with a contraflow in place on the inside carriageway between Fountains roundabout and the 1966 Bridge.  When this is in place, City Walls Road will be closed at its junction with St Martin’s Way (after Brennus Place).

Further information will appear on the Council’s website:

Nicholas Street Viaduct inspection | Cheshire West and Chester Council

The 300m structure carries the A5268 inner ring road in Chester over side roads, the canal and the main Holyhead railway.  It was opened in 1966 and extends from the City Walls at St Martins Gate to the Fountains roundabout at the north end of Upper Northgate Street.

Post-tensioned bridges use high strength steel tendons embedded in concrete.  A special inspection is required to check on the condition of these steel tendons. 

The detailed inspection involves breaking out the small areas of concrete to allow the steel tendons to be viewed and inspected.  This work needs to take place in various locations, on the top of the bridge, and to the underside including the sections over the railway, the canal and the side roads. 

Other work will be carried out at the same time, including carriageway expansion joints which will be replaced with new joints as part of the inspection works.  In addition, the drainage gullies over the structure will be jetted to ensure they are functioning properly.

Later in the works, an inspection to the underside of the viaduct will also take place over and this will require short closures of side roads – Canal Street and Garden Lane, access to the Council-owned car park on Garden Lane, as well as to private land. Residents and businesses will be kept updated.

Details will appear on the Council’s webpage when dates for this are confirmed:

Nicholas Street Viaduct inspection | Cheshire West and Chester Council