Trafford Council Department for Transport Structures Fund Bid.
Funding bid
We have submitted a £4.57m bid to the Department for Transport's (DfT) Structures Fund to secure funding for bridge renewal works.
The investment will help ensure Crossford New Bridge continues to provide a safe and reliable connection for:
- residents
- businesses
- visitors across Greater Manchester.
About the bridge
Crossford New Bridge carries the A56 Cross Street over the River Mersey in Sale, close to Junction 7 of the M60. The bridge is an important transport link used by around 17,500 vehicles each day.
It connects Trafford with:
- Manchester city centre
- the M60 motorway
- other key destinations across Greater Manchester.
The bridge is also part of an important public transport route and sits alongside a key active travel corridor, including recently improved cycling facilities on the A56.
Why work is needed
Regular inspections have found that parts of the bridge are deteriorating due to age and wear.
Without repair work, restrictions may be needed in the future to keep the bridge safe. These could include weight limits or lane restrictions.
If restrictions become necessary, they could affect:
- Journey times and traffic flow
- Bus reliability
- Freight and heavy load movements
- Walking and cycling routes
- Access to key destinations across Greater Manchester
Proposed improvement works
If the bid is successful, the funding would be used to carry out essential structural repairs to the bridge.
The scheme will help:
- keep this important transport route open, safe and reliable
- reduce the risk of future restrictions and delays
- support bus services, freight movements, walking and cycling along the A56 corridor.
By extending the life of the bridge, the project will improve the resilience of Trafford and Greater Manchester's transport network. It will maintain access to jobs, healthcare, leisure destinations and key transport hubs across the region.
View Structures Fund Submission for Trafford Council A56 Crossford New Bridge