Passengers and motorists are strongly urged to check their travel plans as Network Rail prepares for the second part of the multi-million-pound Castleton Bridge replacement this weekend. The M62 motorway will be closed in both directions at Rochdale from Friday 20 September 9pm to Monday 23 September 6am.
National Highways and Network Rail are working to ensure the work goes as smoothly as possible, but are advising drivers to avoid this section of the M62 if possible.
Where will the M62 closures and diversions be?
Due to the timings of the work over weekend, different closure and diversion arrangements will be in place for the westbound and eastbound carriageways.
Eastbound closure
The eastbound carriageway will be closed from junction 18 of the M62 at Simister Island interchange to junction 20 of the M62 at Rochdale.
Eastbound diversion
Eastbound drivers from the M60 or M66 will:
- follow the M60 from junction 18 (Simister Island) to junction 21
- at M60 junction 21, take the A663 northbound to join the A627 at junction 1
- take the A627 north, rejoining the M62 at junction 20
Westbound closure
The westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 at Rochdale and junction 19 at Heywood.
Westbound diversion
From M62 junction 20, Westbound drivers will:
- take the A627(M) Southbound
- at A627(M) Slattocks interchange, head west to the A664 Rochdale Road
- take the A664 Rochdale Road West toward Middleton
- at Middleton, take the A6046 Hollin Lane Northbound
- rejoin the M62 at junction 19
M62 junction 19 and 20 overnight closures
Between the first and second weekend closures, the M62 will be closed nightly (9pm to 6am) in both directions between junctions 19 and 20.
A clearly-signed diversion will be in place for:
- Westbound drivers – by the A627(M), A664 and A6046
- Eastbound drivers – by the A6046, A664 and A627(M)
Are there alternative routes during the M62 closures?
If you’re heading across the Pennines over the weekend, make sure you plan ahead. Check traffic conditions before setting out and consider alternative trans-Pennine routes including:
- A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle
- A66 Penrith to Scotch Corner
- Manchester to Sheffield link (M67/A57/A628/A616).
Will the closure affect rail travel?
The railway will also be closed until the early morning of Wednesday 25 September between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. Rail replacement buses will be in operation, and passengers are advised to review their travel plans well in advance, as journey times will be significantly longer than usual.
Closures can change at short notice, however − you can check the latest information on the National Highways daily closures page or find live travel information on the Traffic England site.