Motorway closure warning for drivers (From St Helens Star)
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Major disruption ahead for Christmas shopping traffic as M60 closes for 24 hours at weekend
9:17am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News
DRIVERS are being warned of a major 24 hour motorway closure near the Trafford Centre over Saturday night and Sunday which could lead to massive tailbacks for Christmas shopping traffic.
The Highways Agency’s North West Regional Control Centre at Newton-le-Willows will be using its extensive network of electronic message signs to alert drivers to diversions when the M60 closes for 24 hours from 10pm tomorrow night (Saturday, November 3).
A new bridge is being installed across the motorway to carry the tracks for the Metrolink extension to Manchester International Airport.
The bridge will be put in place between 10pm tomorrow night and 10pm on Sunday (November 4) when the M60 will be closed to all traffic in both directions between junction 5 at Princess Parkway and junction 8 at Carrington. The bridge itself is being placed between junctions 5 and 6, south of the existing Fairy Lane overbridge.
Officials say that closing the motorway is the only way to ensure the bridges can be installed safely in the interests of road and construction workers and motorway users.
Local diversions from the closure points will be in place but longer distance drivers, including those heading to Manchester Airport, will be encouraged to use alternative motorway routes including western sections of the M62 and M56 as well as the M6.
Drivers planning to use the M60 during the closure period are being advised to plan their journeys carefully, check traffic conditions before setting out and leave extra time if they will need to take one of the long distance or local diversions.
The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_nwest and @HAtraffic_pen9 for transpennine routes.
