Engineers devised a dismantling process that will see each of the 240m long structures come down in 25m long sections.

The highly complex job is set to be completed in December and will cost £6.75m.

The innovative method, devised collaboratively between Amey Consulting, Graham and their specialist contractors, will enable the deconstruction to take place without having to implement a three-month road closure on two major arterial roads servicing Liverpool city centre and the Queensway Tunnel.

The phased dismantling of the two flyovers has also been devised to minimise vibrations to protect antique art and cultural collections housed at the Walker Art Gallery, Central Library and World Museum Liverpool – all of which sit next to the south flyover.

Liverpool City Council approved this sensitive demolition after the two-lane highways were closed last September following the discovery of construction flaws.

 
Each span – weighing between 300 and 600 tonnes – will be temporarily supported, before being cut free and moved on to a special transporter to a nearby compound, where it will be lowered to ground level, cut into smaller sections and removed off site to be crushed.

A total of 20 spans and supporting piers will be removed over a four-month period.

Once the deconstruction is complete, alterations will be made to the highway layout around the Hunter Street – Byrom Street – Queensway Tunnel entrance, to improve traffic and pedestrian movements.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The Churchill Way flyovers are a relic of a cancelled highways plan from half a century ago and given the overwhelming weight of evidence from independent experts about their safety, their removal was the only viable option. We simply have no choice but to take them down as soon as possible.”