WORK begins next week which will see the closure to through traffic of a busy route between Birkenhead and Wallasey for nearly a fortnight.

Essential repairs will be taking place on both the ‘A’ and ‘C’ bridges on the A554 Tower Road from next Monday to Friday, February 6.

The work involves repairs to the deck nosing plate, carriageway repairs and the installation of signage and for them to be carried out safely requires a complete closure in both directions.

However, in order for access to the Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal to be maintained, the job will be carried out in two phases.

Work on the ‘A’ Bridge will take place first, beginning on Monday and lasting for five days.

Tower Road will be closed from the Dock Road / Birkenhead Road roundabout to the Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal roundabout.

The week after, the ‘C’ Bridge will be closed from Monday, February 2, for four days with the road scheduled to reopen on Friday, February 6.

The closure of the ‘C’ Bridge extends from the roundabout at Tower Wharf to the Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal. Pedestrian access will be maintained across both bridges at all times.

The diversion routes will be signed via both the Electronic Variable Message Signs around the area and temporary fixed ‘yellow’ traffic signs and will take through traffic via Tower Road, Rendel Street, Cleveland Street, Duke Street, Dock Road and vice versa.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham, cabinet member for highways, said: “We know this is a key through route for many motorists and our highways team and contractors have planned the works so as to keep disruption to a minimum.

"However, some inconvenience is inevitable and we apologise in advance for this.”