Second M62 weekend closure - here's what you need to know

Drivers planning to use the motorway network around Rochdale, Oldham and north Manchester this weekend are being urged to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys - with the M62 to be closed in both directions between 9pm on Friday (20 September) and 6am on Monday (23 September).

The motorway was closed for a weekend earlier this month as Network Rail demolished Castleton bridge between junction 19 and junction 20 of the motorway at Rochdale.
 

Read more: Important travel information ahead of motorway and rail closures this weekendPublished: 04 September 2024

As expected, drivers experienced congestion along both the motorway network and diversion routes. The motorway carries around 120,000 vehicles a day and is the country’s only trans-Pennine motorway linking Liverpool and Hull and the major cities of Manchester and Leeds in between.

Now National Highways, which operates the M62, is urging drivers planning local or cross-Pennine trips over the weekend to delay journeys, look for alternative routes well away from the area or check for congestion before setting out.

 

 

This second weekend closure is taking place after Network Rail successfully removed the old bridge during a weekend closure of the M62 at the beginning of the month.

Some overnight lane closures along the M62 may be required after Monday to help Network Rail complete the project but these are unlikely to have a significant impact on motorway journeys.

Information for rail & public transport users

Buses will replace trains between Rochdale and Manchester whilst the work takes place.

Rail replacement bus stop locations can be found on dedicated green posters at all stations which are directly impacted by the works.

Your journey might also be affected if you’re travelling from places like Leeds and Bradford to Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Manchester, as trains will be unable to divert and may also be replaced by buses.

Northern Rail has posted: “Journeys will take longer than usual and last services of the day may be much earlier than normal. Please check before travelling and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.”

Tickets

Please note that when considering alternative travel arrangements, there is no ticket acceptance on Metrolink between Rochdale and central Manchester.

If you plan to use Metrolink, please purchase a separate ticket or use contactless to tap-on and tap-off at Metrolink stations. Your usual train tickets will be accepted on the replacement buses.

Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner (resilience), said: “During the first weekend closure we had significant if unsurprising congestion at times on the approaches to the closure along both the clockwise M60 and westbound M62 as well as the diversion routes.

 

 

“This weekend, queues are likely again along the M60, M62 and diversion routes especially during the day and we strongly urge people planning to travel to delay their journeys or use alternative routes well away from this part of the motorway network. 

“At the very least people should be checking for congestion or incidents before setting out and leaving extra time for journeys. 

“There is plenty of live information available on our website at www.trafficengland.com, on X or from our 24-7 customer call centre at 0300 123 5000. Even a quick glance at the map on your mobile phone before leaving the house will tell you how far back the queues are.”

National Highways has been working with Network Rail for months to publicise the two weekend closures of the motorway to allow the essential replacement of Castleton bridge – a near 60-year-old structure forming a critical part of the railway network.

Staff at National Highways’ regional operations centre at Newton-le-Willows and National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC) at Birmingham will again be setting advance and real-time messages on electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers ahead of and during the weekend closure.

This weekend’s closure plan is a repeat of the first one, with the eastbound M62 closed from junction 18 at Simister Island interchange to junction 20 at Rochdale. 

The westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 and junction 19 at Heywood.

The diversion for eastbound drivers will use the strategic road network with drivers from the M66 or clockwise M60 travelling to junction 21 of the M60 at Chadderton where they should then use the northbound A663 (Broadway) and northbound A627M to join the M62 at junction 20.

Drivers diverted off the westbound M62 at junction 20 should join the southbound A627(M) and then use the westbound A664 and northbound A6046 to re-join the M62 at junction 19.

National Highways has set up a webpage to keep commuters, businesses and other M62 users up to date with progress and planned closures related to the Network Rail project including the diversion information.

Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000.