A MAJOR motorway used by 150,000 Britons every day will be closed for the first time in its 64-year history.
Motorists are being urged to “check their travel plans” as the £22m works project starts in a few days.
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Part of the M62 is set to close for the first time within daysCredit: Google Maps
The M62 is one of the UK’s busiest roads, stretching 107 miles across the Pennines.
Linking Liverpool to Manchester, Leeds and Hull, it is a key part of the transport network, particularly given the state of the East-West railway.
Now, however, it is scheduled to close for the first time during the day since it opened in 1960.
Network Rail is spending a staggering £22m to replace a 130ft railway bridge in Greater Manchester.
This will result in separate closures over two weekends to complete the work.
In the first, the old bridge will be demolished and the ruins will be removed by road transport, while in the second, a new bridge will be installed.
Highways officials asked motorists to “check their travel plans” and avoid affected areas where possible during weekdays.
For those who still have to make the trip, significant delays are expected, and no official diversion route has been announced yet.
The first closure will take place from 9pm on September 6th to 6am on September 9th.
The second will then follow in the same hours from the evening of September 20 to the morning of September 23.
A family living on Stott Hall Farm discover what it’s really like to live between the two sides of the M62
Both will see the full closure of the eastbound carriageway between J18 and J20 and the westbound carriageway between J19 and J20.
During this time, the bridge will also remain closed to trains, including freight engines carrying supplies to nearby Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire.
Even when the closure ends, the route will be limited to two lanes until mid-October, causing months of delays.
Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “Replacing Castleton Bridge is vital to the safe operation of our railway and vital to the country’s economy as six per cent of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transport.
“I thank passengers and drivers for their understanding while we carry out this work.
“This is a unique project which for the first time envisages the closure of the M62 at weekends.
“Please check before you travel on the M62 or between Manchester and Rochdale from 6 to 25 September 2024.”
Steve Mason, North West Program Delivery Manager for National Highways, added: “The collaboration between Network Rail and National Highways underlines our commitment to minimizing disruption to rail and road users during this key project.
“We appreciate passengers’ and drivers’ understanding during this work and urge them to check travel plans for September 2024.
“National Highways is actively working with Network Rail to communicate the impact on road users and ensure a smooth process during this important upgrade.”
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Source: HIS Education