Gathurst Viaduct

{{Short description|Bridge in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox bridge

|bridge_name = Gathurst Viaduct

|image = Beneath the M6 viaduct at Deans Lock, Gathurst - geograph.org.uk - 557510.jpg

|caption =

|official_name =

|carries = 6 lanes of motor traffic (M6 motorway)

|crosses = Douglas Valley

|locale = Gathurst, Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester

|maint =

|design =

|mainspan =

|length = 245m (800 ft)

|width =

|height = 22.8m (75 ft)

|clearance =

|below =

|heritage =

|traffic = {{increase}} 106,441 (2018)
[https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/manualcountpoints/16030 Count point]

|cost = c. £830,000

|open = December 1961

|closed =

|toll =

|coordinates = {{coord|53.5617|-2.7009|display=inline,title}}

}}

Gathurst Viaduct carries the M6 motorway across the Douglas valley at Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

The second largest bridge on the M6 motorway, it lies between junctions 26 and 27. Constructed in 6 spans, it crosses the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the Manchester to Southport railway line and the River Douglas itself.

The viaduct is {{convert|800|ft|m|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|87|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the level of the river. The reinforced concrete piers consist of five sets of four {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} diameter columns supporting a cill beam. The reinforced concrete deck is carried on ten {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} deep continuous welded plate girders extending over the full length of the bridge.{{cite web|url=http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=21215&gallery=gathurst&offset=40|title=Construction of the M6 Gathurst Viaduct|publisher=Wiganworld|accessdate=4 July 2019|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229130905/http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=21215&gallery=Gathurst&offset=40|url-status=live}} In design terms it is a sister bridge of the Rakewood Viaduct on the M62 motorway near Littleborough. It was built primarily out of wrought iron.{{Cite web |title=Gathurst Viaduct Viaduct - The ABC Railway Guide |url=https://abcrailwayguide.uk/bridge-wbs3191-shevington-wigan#.Y36awy-l1QI |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=abcrailwayguide.uk |archive-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123221526/https://abcrailwayguide.uk/bridge-wbs3191-shevington-wigan#.Y36awy-l1QI |url-status=live }}

It was built in 1961 by A. Monk and Co Ltd of Irlam at a cost of some £830,000. Steelwork was manufactured by Robert Watson Steelwork Ltd of Bolton.