A bridge building machine is being assembled in Widnes marking a key development milestone for the Mersey Gateway Project.

The equipment, known as a self-launching movable scaffolding systems (MSS), is being put together at Merseylink's Catalyst site.

The machine will be used to build the elevated road viaducts over the salt marshes on both sides of the Mersey Estuary.

The MSS has filled 90 shipping containers and will take between three and four months to piece together.

When fully assembled, it will measure 157 metres long, eight metres high and 22 metres at its widest point.

The steel structure also weighs approximately 1500 tonnes.

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Beginning operation in autumn, the MSS will act as a giant concrete mould for the roadway or 'deck' of the approach viaducts, which will be developed in spans approximately 70 metres in length and over 18 metres wide.

This process will be repeated until all eleven bridge piers on the north side have been connected, at which point it will be dismantled and transported to Runcorn.

The Merseylink Gateway Project will then begin work on the nine piers of the southern approach to the new bridge.

Approximately 23,000 cubic metes of concrete will be used to build the 19 bridge spans.

Merseylink engineers worked with Norwegian company NRS to design the MSS, taking six months to refine and a further five months for the machine to be manufactured in China.

Portuguese subcontractor ConstruGomes will operate the MSS on site.

Richard Walker, Project Director of Merseylink, said: "The MSS was designed specifically for the Mersey Gateway Project.

"Only a handful of companies in the world have the specialist skills to be able to design, manufacture, and operate construction equipment of this size and scale.

"Using international expertise of this calibre has enabled us to create a unique piece of equipment that is vital to the bridge building process."

(LM)