A 400-METRE section of Hutchinson Street in Widnes will be closed for a week from July 23 to July 29 while the Desoto Road bridge near to Stobarts and the Tesco Distribution Centre is demolished as part of the Mersey Gateway Project.

Hutchinson Street will be closed between Wandsworth Way and Desoto Road roundabout from 7pm on Sunday.

It is scheduled to reopen the following weekend.

There will be a number of signed diversions in place directing traffic to avoid the closure, but the diversions will be busy and drivers should allow extra time for journeys.

There will be no change to the main diversion routes that traffic travelling to or from the Silver Jubilee Bridge is currently using to get to and from either Speke Road heading towards Liverpool or towards the Widnes Eastern Bypass.

The footpath which runs alongside this section of Hutchinson Street will also be closed during the works. 

A footpath diversion will be put in place via Wandsworth Way, Dock Road and Macdermott Road to maintain access on foot to and from the area but this will be longer than the current route.

Hugh O’Connor, general manager of Merseylink, said: “This significant piece of work will be carried out around the clock to minimise disruption to commuters and businesses.

"We only carry out overnight working when it is essential and we are confident that the location and any noise and light coming from the works will cause minimal disruption to residents.”