A key section of the M62, which carries about 120,000 vehicles a day, will be completely closed for two full weekends next month.
Between 9pm on Friday 6th September to 6am on Monday 9th September, and from 9pm on Friday 20th September to 6am on Monday 23rd September Network Rail will be replacing a railway bridge between junction 19 at Heywood and junction 20 at Rochdale. Castleton bridge, which is almost 60 years old and carries the main railway line over the M62 between Manchester and Rochdale, is being demolished and replaced with a new bridge.
National Highways, which operates the M62, is working with Network Rail to ensure the work goes as smoothly as possible but is advising drivers that the two weekend closures will affect cross-Pennine travel plans with the motorway linking Liverpool and Hull as well as the cities of Manchester and Leeds in between.
Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner (resilience), said: “Network Rail clearly needs to replace what is an ageing bridge and a critical piece of the railways infrastructure supporting the important Manchester Victoria to Leeds service and other routes.
“We’ve been working with staff from Network Rail for many months to plan and publicise this work including the two full weekend closures. We are urging drivers to avoid this section of the M62 during the two weekends by delaying journeys or planning alternative routes – but anyone who does need to use the M62 over the two weekends should follow the official diversions and not rely on sat nav advice.”
Drivers heading across the Pennines over the two weekends are being urged to plan journeys – including checking for congestion or incidents before setting out. Alternative trans-Pennine routes include the A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle, A66 Penrith to Scotch Corner and the Manchester to Sheffield link (M67/A57/A628/A616).
