en.Wedoany.com Reported - National Highways announced on August 7 that, following a detailed assessment, the M42 motorway junction 6 north bridge is at risk of further deterioration and must be demolished. The bridge had already been closed to traffic in July.

The bridge, which opened in 1976, was found during inspections to have concrete damage and partial corrosion of reinforcement, prompting National Highways to impose a 7.5-tonne weight limit. New Civil Engineer (NCE) reported in July that the bridge had to be closed because road users ignored the weight restriction. Repeated breaches of the weight limit, combined with further extensive investigations and structural monitoring, led the highways authority to close the bridge on July 13. National Highways stated that detailed inspections revealed the bridge was at risk of further deterioration, and that strengthening would not provide a long-term solution.

National Highways said its aim is to "minimise disruption caused by the demolition" by carrying out the work during planned road closures between junctions 6 and 9 of the M42 for HS2 works over the coming weeks. The authority added that plans are currently being developed to install a temporary bridge at the junction before the replacement structure is fitted.

National Highways manages more than 23,000 structures, including around 9,000 bridges. The authority said all structures on its network are subject to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), with general inspections every two years and more detailed principal inspections every six years; inspection frequency was increased after initial deterioration was identified.

Ian Doust, National Highways' Director of Network Planning and Development, said many of the motorways and structures managed by the authority were built more than half a century ago and now need updating or replacing to ensure they remain fit for purpose. He said safety must be the top priority, which is why the highways authority closed the bridge when it saw how quickly the condition of the structure was changing; investigations indicated that demolition and rebuilding to modern standards is the most effective and efficient solution to ensure safe and reliable passage for people and goods.