M60 motorway to close this weekend for gantry removal

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 14:44 · Archive

The M60 between junctions 17 and 18 will close in both directions this weekend for the removal of motorway gantries at Simister Island.

The M60 will close in both directions between junctions 17 and 18 from Saturday evening until Monday morning. The westbound anticlockwise carriageway closes from 10pm Saturday until 6am Monday, while the eastbound clockwise carriageway closes from 11.59pm Saturday until 6am Monday. Clearly signposted diversions will be in place throughout.

National Highways is removing motorway gantries at Simister Island that support signage and have reached the end of their operational life. The four concrete gantries weigh between 90 and 120 tonnes each and are up to 33.25 metres long and 7 metres high. One steel gantry will also be removed. Two gantries were successfully removed during a previous closure on 26 and 27 September.

Francis Oliver, senior project manager at National Highways, said the closure is necessary for essential work as part of a scheme to upgrade the M60 to five lanes in both directions and construct a new loop road at Simister Island. He described this as 'a vital scheme for the north west', noting that the M62 corridor is a major trade route between the port cities of Liverpool and Hull. The improvements are intended to create additional capacity, improve traffic flows and reduce congestion on a stretch used by more than 90,000 vehicles every day.

How it is being reported

• Major motorway stretch to close each way this weekend as gantries removedM60 closure between junctions 17 and 18 this weekend will cause delays as National Highways removes gantries at Simister Island. Check diversions.Chester Standard · 9 Oct, 14:32
• Major motorway stretch to close each way this weekend as gantries removedM60 closure between junctions 17 and 18 this weekend will cause delays as National Highways removes gantries at Simister Island. Check diversions.Northwich Guardian · 9 Oct, 13:58
• Major motorway stretch to close each way this weekend as gantries removedM60 closure between junctions 17 and 18 this weekend will cause delays as National Highways removes gantries at Simister Island. Check diversions.Warrington Guardian · 9 Oct, 13:58

In this story: M60 · Simister Island · National Highways · Francis Oliver · Liverpool · Hull

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