A MAJOR motorway used by 150,000 Brits every day will close for the first time in 64 years tonight as a £22 million bridge is replaced.
Delays along the route are expected to blight drivers for months, with rail passengers also affected.
The M62 connects urban centres including Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds across the Pennines and is one of the busiest route in the country.
A large stretch will fall silent tonight, though, as work begins on replacing an old railway bridge in Greater Manchester.
The first of a series of closures will begin at 9pm this evening and last until 6am on September 9.
This will see a complete shutdown of the carriageway between J18 and J20 eastbound and J19 and J20 westbound.
A second round of works will then take place during the same hours from September 20-23 with the same restrictions in place.
Even when work is completed, these sections are expected to be narrowed to two lanes only until at least mid-October.
The work will also affect the rail network, with all journeys across the Castleton Bridge cancelled, including the rail freight carrying supplies to the Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
Rail replacement buses have been put in place as a substitute for passenger trains.
Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as six per cent of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.
“I’d like to thank passengers and motorists for their understanding while we carry out this work.
“It is a unique project that sees weekend closures of the M62 for the first time.
“Please, check before you travel on the M62 or between Manchester and Rochdale from 6-25 September 2024.”
Steve Mason, North West programme delivery manager for National Highways, added: “The collaboration between Network Rail and National Highways highlights our commitment to minimising disruption for both rail and road users during this essential project.
“We appreciate the understanding of passengers and motorists 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.”
It comes after a section of the UK’s busiest motorway was confirmed to be closing across seven weekends as vital engineering works are carried out on a slip road.
