Drivers experienced significant disruption and hours of delays over a recent weekend as a planned closure of the M60 motorway between junction 17 and 18 led to widespread congestion across north Manchester. This closure, part of a major upgrade project, affected journeys for those travelling through the area, including routes frequently used by Liverpool and Merseyside drivers heading east.
Major Delays Reported During M60 Junction 17-18 Closure
The M60 was shut near Simister Island from 8pm on Saturday, September 25, until 6am on Monday, September 28, to allow National Highways to remove five overhead gantries. This work is part of a nearly £300m scheme to upgrade Simister Island. The closure resulted in severe congestion on designated diversion routes through Prestwich and Higher Blackley, pushing dozens of motorists onto residential roads.
Reports from the BBC detailed accounts of extended travel times. Catherine Kedward, travelling from Atherton to Chadderton on Sunday, described a 20-minute journey that turned into a six-and-a-half-hour diversion. Similarly, the Manchester Evening News highlighted how residents in areas like Heaton Park and Prestwich saw journey times more than double or triple. One driver, Matt Smith, 45, reported a journey to church in Wigan that normally took 40 minutes turning into two hours due to the diversions, forcing him through Swinton and Salford. Another resident stated a typical ten-minute drive from Whitefield took an hour and a half.
Simister Island Upgrade Details and Future Disruption
The closure forms part of the ongoing Simister Island upgrade, a project expected to cost nearly £300m and scheduled for completion in 2029. National Highways stated the scheme aims to create extra capacity, improve traffic flow, and support future housing, employment, and economic growth across the city region. The work involves widening the motorway and adding a new loop lane designed to reduce the number of cars using a traffic-controlled roundabout to travel between the M60, M62, and M66.
Nicola Eastwell, National Highways project manager, noted that the removal of these gantries was an important next step in delivering the scheme. She acknowledged the inconvenience caused and thanked road users for their patience. Further disruption is planned, with another weekend closure of the route due between October 10 and 12.
How the M60 Closure Affects Liverpool and Merseyside Drivers
While the M60 closure is situated in north Manchester, its impact extends to drivers from Liverpool and Merseyside, particularly those using the M60 to access destinations in north Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, or those continuing their journey east via the M62 or M66. The significant delays and diversions reported, especially for those travelling from areas to the west of Manchester such as Atherton and Wigan, illustrate how journeys originating from Merseyside could be similarly affected.
Drivers planning journeys through Greater Manchester during future closures, such as the one scheduled for October 10-12, are advised to plan alternative routes and allow considerably more time for travel, anticipating that local roads will also experience increased traffic as a result of diverted motorway flow.
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