Motorists and pedestrians breathed a sigh of relief after an M62 bridge linking two communities was opened, nearly 12 months after replacement work began.

Whitechapel Road bridge, which links Scholes and Cleckheaton, was opened at 11am yesterday following a major 45-week scheme carried out by the Highways Agency.

The bridge, which carries the B6120 over the motorway, was closed last August to allow engineers to replace the structure.

Previous investigation work showed it would be too costly to repair the bridge and it would make more economic sense to replace it completely.

During the closure, a range of measures were put in place to minimise disruption for local residents and schools, including a free bus service for bridge users, which has now stopped.

The old bridge, which was demolished in stages, was unsafe and was found to contain asbestos.

Highways Agency project manager Sujad Hussain thanked people for their patience while the work was carried out.

He was at the official opening yesterday.

Mr Hussain said: “I would say it was a project that was well planned and well executed and which involved the local community and all other people affected to minimise disruption.

“As a result, we had very few issues from our key stakeholders, including the schools and everyone else.”

He said the new Whitechapel bridge restores an important link between the two villages and that replacing, rather than repairing the bridge, would save money in the long term as it would reduce the need for any future works.

  • Read the full story Thursday’s T&A