M60 closure expected to cause four-hour delays this weekend

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 06:43 · Archive

Junction 17 and 18 of the M60 near Manchester will close this weekend for removal of overhead gantries.

Junctions 17 and 18 of the M60 in Bury, Greater Manchester will close this weekend as part of ongoing upgrade work at Simister Island Interchange. The westbound carriageway closes at 10pm on Saturday until 6am on Monday, while the eastbound closes at 11.59pm on Saturday, reopening at 6am on Monday. Highways England warns that severe congestion and significant delays of up to four hours are expected.

The closures enable demolition of two large overhead gantries at the junction. Each gantry weighs up to 120 tonnes, according to Frances Oliver, National Highways Senior Project Manager, making the work comparable to removing a small footbridge. Two other gantries were removed at the same location last month.

Simister Island, also known as junction 18, is one of the North West's busiest motorway junctions, used by more than 90,000 vehicles daily and connecting the M60, M62 and M66 motorways. The work forms part of a £300m improvement scheme running until 2030. The upgrades will include widening the M60 to five lanes in both directions and constructing a new loop road, intended to reduce congestion and improve traffic flows. The scheme supports future housing, employment and growth across the region.

How it is being reported

• Warning to drivers as part of M60 to shut againSevere congestion is expected while work takes place at Simister Island on the M60 in Bury.BBC Manchester · 9 Oct, 06:15
• Simister Island closure chaos continues amid warnings of 'four-hour delays' this weekendHighways bosses have issued a statement as work on the M60 continuesManchester Evening News · 8 Oct, 12:10

In this story: Simister Island · M60 · M62 · M66 · Bury · National Highways · Frances Oliver

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