Overnight closures on M62 as smart motorway scheme enters next stage

Greater Manchester’s smart motorway scheme enters next stage

The next stage of a project to cut congestion and improve journey times on the M62 will begin on Monday 17 November.

The smart motorway scheme affects junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale.

When the work is completed, new electronic signs will warn drivers of changes in the mandatory speed limit, lane closures and incidents ahead. The hard shoulder will also be permanently converted to an extra lane between junctions 18 and 20 of the M62.

More than 500 people have been working on the motorway since the project began in July, carrying out site surveys and ground investigation work as well as installing temporary CCTV cameras to monitor traffic and respond quickly to incidents.

Narrow lanes and a steel safety barrier will now be introduced on the section of the M62 between junctions 18 and 20 to allow contractors to begin installing nearly 1,000 new lighting columns as well as the technology needed for the overhead message signs.

Stephen Greenhalgh, Project Manager at the Highways Agency, said: “Our teams have been working hard on the smart motorway project since July, with the majority of work taking place overnight so that we can keep all of the lanes open throughout the day.

“We’re now at a stage where we can begin the main construction work and so need to introduce narrow lanes on a five-mile stretch of the M62 for the safety of our workforce.

“We’d like to thank road users for their patience so far and would encourage them to continue to drive carefully through the road works.”

Overnight closures will be in place for four nights next week, between 10pm and 5am, while contractors install the narrow lanes. The eastbound side of the M62 will close overnight between junctions 18 and 19 on Monday 17 November, and between junctions 19 and 20 on Tuesday 18 November.

The westbound side will then close overnight between junctions 20 and 19 on Wednesday 19 November, and between junctions 19 and 18 on Thursday 20 November. Diversions will be in place when the motorway is closed, and access to Birch Services will also be affected by the closures.

A temporary 50mph speed limit, enforced by average speed cameras, is currently in place along the smart motorway route for the safety of road workers and motorists.