Liverpool city centre’s Churchill Way flyovers are to be demolished after being deemed unfit to carry vehicles or pedestrians.

Liverpool City Council has revealed that the two-lane concrete structures, which were closed at the end of September 2018 for detailed inspections, have been found to have significant defects and cannot be strengthened.

Plans to demolish the flyovers, which opened in 1970 as part of a city centre inner ring road scheme which was later cancelled, follow an independent engineering inspection.

Previous closures of the roads took place in the 1980s for repairs, and further remedial works were carried out in 2005 and 2013 as part of a regular maintenance regime.

Inspections were carried out following the September 2018 closure.

Following new legislation on major highways structures, a Post Tensioned Special Inspection (PTSI) began in 2016 to assess the northern and southern sections, both of which are more than 240 metres in length.

According to the city council this uncovered problems with drainage, internal support, barriers and bearings which lead to 2018’s closure to investigate potential hidden defects and overstress.

Engineers from Amey have found the quality of construction using concrete and steel was poor, with tendons and ducts corroded and signs of structural distress including cracking over some supports.

The firm is said to have calculated that strengthening the flyovers is not feasible and the cost of replacing them would be between £50 million and £60m, compared to a demolition price of £5.7m.

Trevor Cherryholme, principal project manager at Amey Consulting, says: “The safety of the public is our primary concern and our inspection of the Churchill Way flyovers found that they are no longer adequate to carry vehicles or pedestrians.

“Our primary areas of concern are the poor quality of original construction, subsequent deterioration and the current signs of structural distress.

“More specifically, poor steel placement and spalled concrete, collapsed or failed formwork, failed drainage and signs of overstress in the deck are among our most significant findings.

“It is our view that there is no safe option other than demolition.”

Inspections highlighted corrosion on the flyovers.

Demolition work is expected to begin this summer, with the council developing proposals in the meantime to improve the Queensway Tunnel roundabout and the Hunter Street interchange at an estimated cost of £10m to cope with increased traffic flow caused by the loss of the flyovers.

Temporary ramps will also be fitted on footbridges across Hunter Street, enabling pedestrians to cross the road.

Councillor James Noakes, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for highways, adds: “The Churchill Way flyovers are a relic of a plan from half a century ago that was never completed.

“Public safety is absolutely paramount and despite the obvious inconvenience the demolition will cause, we can’t compromise on safety and it is simply not economically viable to make them safe.

“Although there has been an increase in traffic at peak times in and around the Queensway Tunnel as a result of the closure, the city has been able to cope with it.

“What we will now be doing is working up detailed designs for junction improvements which will help deal with the removal of the flyovers.

“Our analysis shows that it helps support our City Centre Connectivity Scheme and particularly makes it easier for vehicles to exit the proposed new bus hub.

“We will be working hard to keep all of our city centre stakeholders and the public informed at every step of the way.”

The Churchill Way flyovers had previously been the subject of a vision to create an urban park and venue by the community interest company We Make Places.

The Friends of the Flyover project was initially proposed at the end of 2013 in response to city proposals that the structures and the walkways beneath them would face future demolition.

Related posts:

‘Fan personalisation area’ planned for Anfield concourse Liverpool lines up International Women’s Day celebrations Calderstones Mansion transformation underway Filming in Liverpool brings £8m boost for economy Kazimier team’s city centre Christmas displays revealed Historic hidden locks on canal to be revealed for first time in 170 years