As work to upgrade Greater Manchester’s Simister Island, the interchange connecting the M60, M62 and M66 motorways, gets underway, road closures and diversions will take place over two weekends. The £296m project will see National Highways close the M60 in both directions between junctions 17 and 18 and severe congestion is to be expected.
Last year, the Government approved funding for over fifty road and rail upgrades across the country, including Simister Island, as part of the £92bn of transport investment in the Spending Review.
National Highways need the two full weekend closures to remove five overhead gantries as well as prepare the road to take the weight of heavy equipment without damage. The closures also allows enough time to move the plant carefully on and off site and make sure roads are safe and debris free before re-opening them to traffic.
The series of road closures will take place from Saturday 26th September to Monday 28th September and Saturday 10th October to Monday 12th October.
Why does Simister Island need to be upgraded?
As one of the North West’s busiest hubs, the interchange which connects the M60, M62 and M66 motorways handles roughly 90,000 vehicles a day. The upgrade project, which is expected to be complete by 2030, will streamline traffic flow across connecting motorways, delivering safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys throughout Greater Manchester.
Proposed improvements for Simister Island:
Infrastructure upgrades: Modernising signage, signals, and drainage across the interchange.
New free-flow links: A new northern loop connecting the M60 eastbound to the M60 southbound, plus a new two-lane free-flow link connecting the M60 northbound to the M60 westbound (replacing the current single-lane connection).
Lane expansions: Converting the hard shoulder into a permanent fifth lane in both directions between M60 Junctions 17 and 18, and widening the M66 southbound to four lanes through Junction 18.
Road Realignment: Realigning the M66 southbound carriageway on its approach to the junction.
M60 road closures and diversions for Simister Island upgrade
Saturday 26 September to Monday 28 September, split by direction:
- M60 anticlockwise (westbound) closed from 8pm on Saturday to 6am Monday
- M60 clockwise (eastbound) closed from 10pm on Saturday to 6am Monday
Saturday 10 October to Monday 12 October, split by direction:
- M60 anticlockwise (westbound) closed from 10pm on Saturday to 6am Monday
- M60 clockwise (eastbound) closed from 11.59pm on Saturday to 6am Monday
Diversion routes:
M60 clockwise Junction 17 to Junction 18 closed 5 miles / 8 km:
- exit the M60 at junction 17
- take the third exit onto Bury New Road (A56)
- turn left onto Scholes Lane (A6044)
- continue to Middleton Road (A576)
- turn left onto Middleton Road (A576) and continue to M60 junction 19
- at junction 19, take the first exit onto the M60 anticlockwise to junction 18
M60 anticlockwise Junction 18 to Junction 17 closed 5 miles / 8 km:
- from the M62 westbound, join the M60 clockwise to junction 19
- at junction 19, take the third exit onto Middleton Road (A576)
- turn right onto Sheepfoot Lane (A6044) and continue to Bury New Road (A56)
- turn right onto Bury New Road (A56) and continue to M60 junction 17 to continue on your journey
Speed limit restriction
National Highways has said there will be a 50mph restricted speed limit during the works. At the end of most restricted sections, drivers will see “end of works” and national speed limit (NSL) signs.
Moving from 50mph restricted sections to variable speed limit motorway
At two locations, drivers won’t return to the national speed limit:
- M60 anti clockwise junction 17 to 16, just west of the junction 17 slip road onto the M60
- M62 eastbound junction 18 towards Birch Services
More information can be found here.
