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The Churchill Way flyovers in Liverpool city centre are to close after a routine inspection concluded that further investigation works are required.

The two-lane, concrete fly-overs, which were opened in 1970 as part of a £2.4m Mersey Tunnel relief scheme, will close in both directions at 8pm tonight (Friday, 28 September) to allow more intrusive inspections to take place.

The flyovers, consisting of two separate roads linking Lime Street to Dale Street (south flyover) and Tithebarn Street (north flyover), run directly behind the city’s museums and galleries in William Brown Street and has been under constant assessment since the 1980s when it was closed for repairs. There were further remedial works in 2005 and 2013 as part on an ongoing maintenance regime.

Following new legislation on major highways structures a Post Tension Site Investigation (PTSI) began in 2016 to assess the northern and southern sections, both of which are more than 240 metres in length. This has found several design and construction flaws, including drainage, internal support, barriers and bearings and has recommended further intrusive investigations be carried out which requires a full closure.

It is anticipated this new survey, which will be undertaken by specialist engineers and will involve structural testing, removal of the road surface and drilling into the decks as well as underground assessments of every supporting column, is expected to take at least six months to complete. This estimated time period will be affected by the unusual fact that the fly-overs have no access chambers to allow such inspections.

The diversion routes will be as follows:

• North Flyover – Traffic on Tithebarn Street will be directed to take a left on Vauxhall Road then right on to Leeds Street, then right on to Byrom Street and up Hunter Street to the junction with St Anne Street and into the city centre.
• South Flyover – Traffic on Lime Street will be directed to continue onto Commutation Row then left onto Islington, down on to Hunter Street then left onto Byrom Street into the city centre – where they can access lower Dale Street from the tunnel roundabout. Equally traffic on Hunter Street can continue north on the A59 and then take a left at Leeds Street to access the waterfront.
• The bus lane on St Johns Lane heading up to Lime Street station will also be suspended

Senior coroner, Christopher Sumner, has retired from his post after 20 years-service.

Mr Sumner, 75, took up the role on October 10, 1998 and following two decades as senior coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley, is stepping aside to enjoy his retirement.

Christopher, who has two sons Stuart and Edward with his late wife Marjorie, started his career as a teacher at Croxteth Comprehensive School after studying at Durham University.

A career in law beckoned and he completed his articles at Goldrein & Company Solicitors in Liverpool and continued in criminal law in the city.

Mr Sumner later moved to Southport and worked within different legal firms before opening his own practice within the resort.

From there he become Senior Coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley and has presided over more than 5,100 inquests.

A Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer empowered to enquire into sudden, unnatural or violent deaths.

Christopher Sumner, said: “It has been a real honour to be Senior Coroner for 20 years serving bereaved families at the most difficult of times.
“My role is to help establish how people have died, and during my time I hope I have been able to give families answers and some form of closure following the loss of a loved one.
“A lot of hard work goes into the Coroner’s service and I could not have done my job without the help and support of so many people who I am eternally thankful for.”

In his spare time Christopher dedicated more than 30 years to the Scouts Association working in various roles within Southport and became the District Commissioner for Formby Scouts.

He has been a member of Southport Links Rotary Club for over 25 years, giving his time and support for the local community and international projects. He became the District Governor of District 1180 which covered the whole of North Wales, Cheshire, Wirral, Liverpool up to Southport.

On retirement he intends on spending more time with his family and wife Bernadette, continuing his membership at Hillside Golf Course, Rotary, quizzes and pursuing his beloved Everton FC.

Mr Sumner will be replaced by Graham Jackson who will become the acting Senior Coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley.