Plans to dismantle one of Liverpool’s longest-standing flyovers has begun.
Churchill Way stood for over half a century but was closed down last year after it emerged that major structural failings made it unsafe for public use.
Liverpool City Council launched an investigation into the two-lane flyover and concluded that it would cost £7.2 million to maintain without any traffic flow.
Work on pulling down the 240 metre-long route will begin on Monday in a move which will take place across a four-month period to fully remove it.
Council bosses have sought to minimise disruption to motorists and pedestrians during the dismantling phase while consering nearby museums and galleries.
Dismantling of the three footbridges which sit underneath the two flyovers will begin on Monday, leading to noise and dust in the local area.
Contractors GRAHAM anticipate that this will take between two and three weeks to complete and will see phased road closures in Byrom Street and Hunter Street.
Liverpool-bound traffic in the Birkenhead Tunnel will be shut on the weekends of September 6-9, 20-23 and October 4-7 due to the closure of these routes.
With the exception of buses and emergency vehicles, the tunnel will be closed to motorists from 7pm each Friday and reopen at 6am on the following Monday.
Vehicles travelling to the Wirral will still be able to use the tunnel as normal while the Wallasey Tunnel remains open for business as usual in all directions.
People requiring access to the Liverpool John Moores’ University campus in the area will need to go via Dale Street and Hatton Garden to Great Crosshall Street.
A pedestrian diversion route will also be available via Hunter Street, Islington, Commutation Row and William Brown Street.
Fontenoy Street will be completely closed from September 2 until October 14.
Additionally the section of Dale Street from Byrom Street to Crosshall Street is set to be closed for 10 days between October 4 and 14.
Cuerden Street, which provides pedestrian access to the LJMU campus, is set to be closed for one month between November 11 and December 20.
Local car parks will also be closed at Primrose Hill (from Aug 26 to Oct 14), Dale Street (Aug 23 to Nov 15) and Hunter/Cuerden Street (Aug 27 to Dec 20.