Planned North West roadworks – Monday 5 to Sunday 11 February 2018

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of Friday 2 February but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible. Drivers looking for roadworks information (such as overnight carriageway closures) for individual schemes should now visit www.trafficengland.com. Some of our larger schemes have project pages giving other information. These can now be accessed from a dedicated regional page: roads.highways.gov.uk/north-west

M53 Junction 3
A maintenance project to repair the two bridges which carry the junction roundabout over the motorway is underway with narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit. Sections of the roundabout itself will be closed overnight occasionally to install narrow lanes and a 30mph speed limit, and – later this year – for resurfacing/re-waterproofing of the bridge decks. A 7.5 tonne weight restriction on the north bridge has also now begun.

M53 Junction 9 (cycle improvement)
Work started on Monday (29 January) on a 3 month project to improve cycling facilities around the junction, including improving connectivity under the motorway. The work will include amending the exiting footpaths into a shared cycleway, installation of new signs, improvements to existing pedestrian crossing points and resurfacing. Work will take place between 7.30am and 6pm during the week but with some weekend work at times. The A5032 Station Road, Oil Sites Road and South Pier Road local roads may be affected by lane closures during the project and temporary 3-way traffic lights will also be required. Pedestrian paths under the motorway will be maintained throughout the work.

M56 Junctions 2 to 5 (Wythenshawe to Manchester Airport)
Resurfacing is taking place along the M56 between junctions 2 and 5. Lane and carriageway closures are in place overnight between 10pm and 5am, Monday to Friday, and some work will also be carried out at weekends. Clearly-signed diversions will be in place during carriageway closures.
M6 Junctions 16 to 19 (Cheshire smart motorway)
Work is underway to upgrade the M6 to a smart motorway between Crewe and Knutsford, converting the hard shoulder to an extra lane and introducing new variable speed limits. Narrow lanes and a temporary 50mph speed limit are in place for the safety of drivers and workers. The following overnight carriageway closures are planned this weekend:
• Friday 2 February, junctions 19 to 18 southbound
• Saturday 3 February, junctions 18 to 19 northbound
• Sunday 4 February, junctions 17 to 16 southbound

M6 junctions 44 to 45 (Scottish Border)
Resurfacing work is taking place along the northbound carriageway, with a 50mph speed limit in place and one lane closed during the day. At night the carriageway will be reduced to a single lane, from 8pm to 6am. The northbound carriageway will also be closed on Saturday nights, with the final Saturday night closure scheduled for 24 February. A clearly-signed diversion will be in place.

M60 junction 8 to M62 junction 20 (Sale to Rochdale)
A major smart motorway scheme is taking place to cut congestion and improve journey times on parts of the M60 and the M62 in Greater Manchester. The scheme involves overnight slip road and carriageway closures, with narrow lanes and a temporary 50mph speed limit in place for the safety of drivers and road workers. Overnight closures will take place between 10pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly-signed diversion routes.
M62 junctions 7 to 8 (safety barrier upgrade)
Work to upgrade the safety barrier in the central reservation started on Monday (29 January) and will be completed by the end of March. All the work will be done overnight between 9pm and 5am, Monday to Friday, using temporary lane closures.

M65 Junctions 7 to 8 (noise barrier)
Work has started to install a new noise barrier along the eastbound M65 at Hyndburn. The overnight work will take place between 8pm and 5am, Monday to Friday, and is due to be completed by the end of February. Overnight closures of the eastbound entry slip road at junction 7 will be needed during the work with a clearly-signed motorway diversion in place. Some overnight lane closures will also be needed at times.

M66 Junctions 1 to 2 (Bury)
A project to deliver resurfacing, new drainage and new safety barriers along the northbound carriageway started in November. All the work will take place overnight – between 8pm and 5am – from Monday to Friday only. There will be nightly closures of the northbound carriageway for around two months. A clearly-signed diversion will be in place using the A58 and A56.

A56 Accrington Bypass (Bent Gate to Edenfield)
Overnight work to install new lighting and safety barriers along the northbound and southbound carriageways is due to be completed this winter. The work is taking place between 8pm and 6am, Monday to Friday only. Some weekend and daytime working may be required later in the project. Some full carriageway closures may also be required with clearly-signed diversions in place.

A590 Pigwilly Wood to M6
Work to prepare the eastbound dual carriageway for carriageway reconstruction and resurfacing later this year started in January. As part of the preparatory work, and to allow ground surveys, lane 2 of the dual carriageway in each direction will be closed until mid-February.

A590 Ulverston
A new pedestrian refuge island is being constructed at Canal Street, Ulverston. The work is being done overnight – between 7pm and 6am – to help minimise disruption to road users. Temporary traffic lights will be in use during the overnight road works and the scheme is due to be completed by the end of February.

A66 North Stainmore
Work is taking place to resurface a half mile section of the A66 between North Stainmore and Brough in Cumbria. Reflective road studs will also be replaced and road markings will be repainted. Most of the work will be done using single lane closures but some overnight closures of the westbound carriageway will be required on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Clearly-signed diversions will be in place.

A66 Keswick to Penrith
A 1.5 mile section of the A66 between Keswick and Penrith is being resurfaced. A temporary 40mph speed limit will be in place around the clock and temporary traffic lights will occasionally be needed during the day. Overnight work – between 7pm and 6am – will require a combination of temporary traffic lights and some overnight full carriageway closures which will be publicised in advance. Occasionally overnight, drivers may need to be held at the temporary traffic lights and led past the roadworks at 10mph by a contractor’s vehicle. The scheme is due to be completed by the end of March.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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