M62 weekend closures

From Saturday September 8 through to early October, there will be overnight motorway closures every Saturday between the two junctions.

Closures take place from 8pm on Saturdays until 9am on Sundays. A clearly-signed diversion route will be in place. Westbound traffic will leave the motorway at junction 26 and follow the A58, A641 and A644 before rejoining at junction 25. Eastbound traffic will leave the motorway at junction 25 and follow the A644, A62 and A638 before rejoining at junction 26.

The £150m managed motorway scheme, which covers a 15.5-mile section of the M62 between junction 25 and junction 30 (Rothwell), will cut congestion, make journey times more reliable and improve safety through the use of variable mandatory speed limits and by opening the hard shoulder as an extra running lane.

David Pilsworth, Highways Agency project manager, said: “Moving to the next phase of gantry installation work represents a significant milestone in the project, which is progressing very well.

“In order to minimise inconvenience to road users we are carrying out these closures overnight, when traffic flows are lower, but it is important that drivers allow extra time for their journeys and follow the signed diversion routes.”

The first phase of work to install gantries and signing began in March between junctions 27 and 28, and gantry work between junctions 26 to 27 was completed last weekend.

A total of 36 new overhead gantries are required along the new managed motorway, with a further 16 existing gantries being upgraded. The gantries will house signs used to display variable speed limits to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion.

In addition to the overnight weekend closures, there will also be various carriageway, lane and slip road closures for resurfacing and ducting work on weeknights between junctions 25 to 30 until the end of the year. There is also a 50mph speed restriction in operation over 24 hours throughout the works.