The demolition forms part of a £60m renewal programme that will see a 130-metre-long bridge removed and replaced over the first two weekends of 2026.
Network Rail and its principal contractor Skanska completed the first phase in the early hours of this morning, successfully removing Clifton Bridge. The operation required a full closure of the M6 between junctions 39 and 40 from 8pm on Friday 2 January until 5am on Monday 5 January.
A fleet of some of the UK’s largest excavators was deployed to break down the 1960s concrete structure, which had spanned six lanes of motorway for almost 60 years. After dominating the skyline above the M6 for decades, the bridge was reduced to rubble in a matter of hours, watched by hundreds of spectators over the weekend.
Timelapse footage has now been released to mark this major project milestone, with the motorway reopening at 3.50am — 70 minutes ahead of schedule.
Over the coming week, thousands of motorists will pass beneath a temporary gap in the West Coast Main Line where the bridge once stood. Next weekend, a new 4,200-tonne steel and concrete structure will be installed during a further 57-hour motorway closure.
Rosario Barcena, Skanska UK rail programme director, said: “It’s been an incredible effort by the entire team to complete the demolition of the former Clifton Bridge, working 24/7 across the weekend to make sure that the M6 motorway could re-open on Monday morning.
“Technically it was a complex operation which we managed with great precision and care. The works were completed safely, with the support structures that the new 4,200 tonne bridge will sit on successfully retained.
“It’s been a super-collaborative approach with Network Rail, National Highways and our supply chain team. I’d also like to extend my thanks to people travelling in the region and the local community for their understanding while we undertake these essential works.”
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