Gathurst Viaduct, Motorway bridge in Wigan, England
Gathurst Viaduct is a concrete bridge carrying the M6 motorway across Douglas Valley while allowing the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and railway lines to pass underneath. The structure spans across the landscape using continuous welded steel plate girders supported by large concrete pillars.
The viaduct opened in December 1961 as part of the expanding British motorway network, connecting communities across the valley. Its completion marked a turning point in post-war infrastructure development.
The structure represents the engineering achievements of post-war Britain, connecting communities while maintaining passage for canal boats and trains below.
The viaduct sits between junctions 26 and 27 of the M6 and is visible from the valley below, making it easy to see its scale and construction from ground level. Best views come from nearby rest areas and roads that run underneath or alongside the bridge.
The bridge features ten continuous welded plate girders extending its full length, supported by five sets of four concrete columns measuring 1.8 meters in diameter.
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