M62 closure, cancelled trains and tram disruption could cause chaos for residents

Motorway closures, cancelled trains and tram disruption could cause people in the Rochdale borough a few headaches next month. A stretch of the M62 motorway – between junctions 18 and 20 – will be out of action during periods of September.

Motorists and passengers have been told to expect disruption while ‘essential works’ are carried out to replace the railway bridge that takes trains over the M62 in Castleton.

The affected stretch of railway will be closed from 6 September to 24 September between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. Rail replacement buses will be put on.

The scheme, costing £27m, will see engineers dismantle the old 42m long, 2,000 tonne bridge and take it away on the motorway. Network Rail and National Highways, who are responsible for the works, have warned passengers and motorists to check before they travel in September.

Network Rail said rail and road closures are required in order to ensure the ‘safety and reliability of the bridge for years to come’. The Metrolink network is still expected to be down between Rochdale and Oldham due to ‘land movement’ in July affecting tracks.

No trams are operating between Rochdale town centre and Oldham Mumps until further notice, Transport for Greater Manchester confirmed earlier this month. A replacement bus service operates between Rochdale Town Centre and Oldham Mumps every 20 minutes.

 

 

The M62 will be closed over two weekends between J18 and J20 – from the evening of Friday 6 September to early morning on Monday 9 September; and from the evening of Friday 20 September to early morning on Monday 23 September. 

Outside the full road closure, the motorway will be reduced to three lanes. There will also be nightly closures between J19 and J20 to support the work to the base of the bridge from 9pm to 6am between Monday 9 September and Friday 20 September.

There will be two different diversion routes for eastbound and westbound traffic: eastbound traffic will leave the M62 at J18 and be diverted along the M60 clockwise to Oldham, onto the A663 (Broadway) and then onto the A627(M) to rejoin the M62 at J20. Westbound traffic will leave the M62 onto the A627(M) towards Middleton, then onto the A664 (Rochdale Road) and Hollin Lane to rejoin the M62 at J19.

Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as 6 per cent of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.

“I’d like to thank passengers and motorists for their understanding while we carry out this work. Please, check before you travel on the M62 or between Manchester and Rochdale in September 2024.”

 

 

Amy Williams, regional director at National Highways, said: “The collaboration between Network Rail and National Highways highlights our commitment to minimising disruption for both rail and road users during this essential project.

“We appreciate the understanding of passengers and motorists during this work and urge them to check travel plans for September 2024.

“National Highways is actively working with Network Rail to communicate the impact on road users and ensure a smooth process during this important upgrade, more information will be shared in the coming months.”

Rochdale Council advised travellers to keep tabs on the Nation Highways and Network Rail websites for updates. Councillor Phil Burke, chair of the Transport Committee, said he’s received reports this motorway closure is being advertised as far north as Scotland – highlighting the significance of this scheme.

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Council, said: “We’re aware of work, being led by Network Rail, with support from National Highways, to replace a railway bridge over the M62 in September.

“Although the council is not involved in this project, we know that it will have a significant impact on our network and are taking steps to mitigate this as much as possible. These measures include a pause on all non-emergency works being carried out by ourselves and others, including utility companies.

“This will be in place with limited exceptions for major ongoing projects, such as the Queen’s Park Bridge replacement, and small scale works, like pothole repairs, which don’t generally cause disruption.”

George Lythgoe, local democracy reporter