A MAJOR motorway used by 150,000 Brits every day is set to close for the first time in its 64-year history.
Drivers have been urged to “check their travel plans” as a £22 million roadworks project gets underway within days.
The M62 is one of the UK’s busiest roads, stretching for 107 miles across the Pennines.
Connecting Liverpool with Manchester, Leeds and Hull, it is a key section of the transport network, especially given the state of east-west rail.
Now, though, it is scheduled to see its first daytime closure since it was opened in 1960.
Network Rail is spending a whopping £22 million to replace a 130ft railway bridge in Greater Manchester.
This will result in separate closures across two weekends to complete the work.
The first will see the old bridge demolished and the rubble removed by road freight, while the new bridge will be installed during the second.
Highway officials have asked drivers to “check their travel plans” and avoid the affected areas where possible during the work dates.
For those who do have to make the trip, significant delays are expected, with no official diversion route yet released.
The first closure will take place from 9pm on September 6 to 6am on September 9.
The second will then follow the same hours from the evening on September 20 to the morning of September 23.
These will both see complete shutdowns of the eastbound carriageway between J18 and J20 and westbound between J19 and J20.
During this time, the bridge will also remain closed to trains, including the freight engines that carry supplies to the nearby Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire.
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 6% 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.”
