'Smart' motorway system to be introduced on M62

Manchester Smart Motorways map

The smart motorway system is to be introduced on a 17-mile stretch between Junction 8 of the M60 near Sale and Junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale. These sections are used by more than 180,000 vehicles on a daily basis, with road users experiencing heavy congestion and unpredictable journey times.

The smart motorway system uses a combination monitors traffic levels and provides traffic information to road users and aims to ease congestion by using variable speed limits.

Smart motorways can also provide more capacity by permanently using the hard shoulder as an additional lane, with the creation of new safe refuge areas for any emergency. Electronic signs are used to close lanes to allow emergency vehicles through.

The planned changes will be explained at exhibitions at the Lancashire Health and Racquet Club in Middleton on Friday 15 November midday to 8pm and Saturday 16 November from 10am to 5pm.

Those who go to the events will be able to speak to the Highways Agency’s project team, read more about the plans and watch a video “fly-through” - giving people a virtual tour of the motorways.

Jacqui Allen, senior project manager, said: “The exhibitions are a great opportunity for people to find out more about our plans to improve journey times on parts of the M60 and M62, so we encourage anyone with an interest to come along and put any questions they may have to the project team.”

Work is due to start in summer 2014 (subject to the completion of statutory processes), and to be completed in 2016/17.