Ash dieback in the North West
Ash dieback is affecting trees on the land we manage. We're taking action to slow its spread and make sure trees along our strategic road network remain safe.
We're committed to protecting the natural environment that surrounds our roads. We're responsible for 30,000 hectares of land and we want to foster a rich biodiversity across our soft estate.
Trees are a very important part of this, whether we plant them ourselves or they're growing naturally on our land.
We manage trees on our land through their whole lifecycle, to control safety risk and maximise their environmental value. This is why our tree specialists carry out regular inspections for safety and general woodland management.
We also have a legal obligation to ensure our strategic road network remains safe to road users and the trees in our care do not pose a hazard to adjacent property.
Regrettably, surveys by our specialists have found many Ash trees are suffering from Ash dieback disease. A large proportion are now dead or dying and pose a potential safety risk, leaving us with no alternative other than to make them safe or remove them.
Ash dieback is a highly destructive fungal disease of Ash trees. It causes leaf loss, dead branches and canopy decline in infected trees.
What are we doing to address Ash dieback?
We will be spending more than £2 million over the next six months to manage Ash dieback disease on our woodland estate in the North West.
Over the coming weeks and months, we will remove or make safe Ash trees identified for urgent action. Care of our woodland is an ongoing process and further works will be needed in winter to address trees which are currently infected but assessed as requiring less urgent action.
Whilst we are working in the area, we will also be carrying out routine woodland management works to improve the condition of the woodland plots and encourage diversity and fresh growth in the coming years. Where appropriate we will replant suitable native trees or shrubs such as hazel and hawthorn. Some areas will be left to regenerate naturally. The waste timber and most of the woodchip will be sent for processing by local timber merchants.
Project information
Regrettably, surveys by our specialists have found many ash trees alongside the A56 near Rawtenstall are deteriorating more quickly than expected. A large proportion are now dead or dying and pose a potential safety risk, leaving us with no alternative other than to make them safe or remove them.
We will be carrying out tree management works in both directions alongside the A56 between the Rawtenstall junction and Rising Bridge roundabout. We will also be carrying out safety barrier repairs at the same time to make efficient use any road closures.
Our work starts on Wednesday 10 January and will complete by the end of March 2024.
Whilst we always aim to work to our schedule, unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions may mean slight changes occur at short notice.
We will be working during both the day and the night. Where possible, to reduce the need for lane or carriageway closures, we’ve planned our work so we can access the woodland estate without use of the A56.
However, to maintain safety for the travelling public and our staff, we will occasionally need to close short sections of either the southbound or northbound carriageways overnight to access and remove diseased Ash trees.
To ensure journeys are maintained, clearly signed diversion routes will be in operation when overnight closures are in effect.
We always advise drivers to plan their journeys in advance and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We will be carrying out tree management works at various locations along the A590 this winter, including:
- Between M6 junction 36 and Brettargh Holt roundabout in both directions
- Both sides of the Levens junction
- Meathop roundabout
- Lindale Bypass in both directions
- Newby Bridge to Haverthwaite
Our programme of work starts on Monday 20 November and is scheduled to complete by spring 2024.
Most of the works will be undertaken during the day, however some overnight work may be required.
To maintain safety for the travelling public and our staff, we will work under lane 1 closures wherever safe to do so. In some locations along the A590 we may need to temporarily control the flow of traffic under a two-way traffic light system.
The route will remain open to traffic throughout our work, although minor delays might be experienced at peak hours. We always advise drivers to plan their journeys in advance.
Every effort will be made to ensure the works are completed safely and disruption is kept to a minimum. However, these works may cause small delays to journeys, and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We’re carrying out woodland management work at a number of locations along the M56, between junction 9 (Lymm) and 11 (Preston Brook).
This includes areas near Pillmoss Lane, Tan House, Stretton Wood and Newton Lane. Our work in these locations is scheduled to be complete by spring 2024.
We will typically work at each of the sites on the M56 over a period of five to ten days. We aim to complete most of our work at night, when traffic volumes are at their lowest.
The M56 will remain open throughout, however journeys may be delayed by temporary closures of the hard shoulder, lane 1 and sometimes lane 2 at each location. Lane closures will be in effect for a section of motorway typically a mile or less in length.
Every effort will be made to ensure the works are done safely and disruption is kept to a minimum. However, these works may generate some minor delays to journeys, and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We will be carrying out woodland management works alongside the M58 westbound carriageway near Bickerstaffe.
We will be focusing on removing trees that are suffering from ash dieback disease that over time will make the trees weaker and unsafe, which is why we are acting now to remove them.
We will be working during daylight hours between Monday 26 February and Friday 1 March 2024. We will also need to work over five nights between 1 and 27 March.
We will need to close the M58 eastbound hard shoulder during the day and the eastbound junction 3 access slip and lanes 1 and 2 at night. The works will not affect Church Road.
We will be carrying out tree works at 12 locations along the M6, between junction 29 (Preston) and junction 38 (Tebay).
Our programme of woodland management starts on Monday 20 November and is scheduled to be complete by spring 2024.
We will typically work at each of the sites on the M6 over a period of five to ten days. We aim to complete most of our work at night, when traffic volumes are at their lowest.
The M6 will remain open throughout, however journeys may be delayed by temporary closures of the hard shoulder, lane 1 and sometimes lane 2 at each location. Lane closures will be in effect for a section of motorway typically a mile or less in length.
Every effort will be made to ensure the works are done safely and disruption is kept to a minimum. However, these works may generate some minor delays to journeys, and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We will be carrying out tree management works in both directions alongside the M60, between junction 13 Worsley Interchange and where the motorway passes over Greenleach Lane.
Our programme of tree management work is scheduled to start on Monday 8 January and finish at the end of February 2024.
Whilst we always aim to work to our schedule, unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions may mean slight changes occur at short notice.
Where possible, the works have been planned so we can access affected trees without needing to use the motorway. However, to maintain safety for the travelling public and our contractors, we will occasionally require traffic management in the form of lane closures and exit slip closures. We always advise drivers to plan their journeys in advance and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
Our work will require the use of chainsaws and large machinery, and our contractors will be following industry best practice to reduce noise as much as possible. Again, we apologise in advance for any inconvenience the works may cause.
We will be carrying out tree management works at various locations along the M61 this winter, including:
• M61 junctions 4 to 5, near St Helens Road – November to December 2023
• M61 junctions 5 to 6, near Chew Moor Lane – December 2023 to February 2024
• M61 between junctions 6 and Rivington Services – November 2023 to March 2024
• M61 northbound from junctions 8 to 9, near Birchen Lane – December 2023
• M61 southbound from its junction with the M6, near Bankhead Lane - February 2024
Our work will focus on removing trees along the route that are suffering from Ash dieback disease that over time will make the trees weaker and unsafe.
We will also be carrying out routine woodland management works to improve the condition of the woodland plots and encourage diversity and fresh growth in the coming years.
Most of the woodland management work will be undertaken during the day, however some overnight work may be required. We’ll be following industry best practice to reduce noise as much as possible.
To maintain safety for the travelling public and our staff, we'll need to work under temporary closures of the hard shoulder, lane 1 and occasionally lane 2. Lane closures will be in effect for a section of motorway typically a mile or less in length.
No work will take place over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, from 19 December 2023 to 3 January 2024, which means lane closures can be removed in full.
The M61 will remain open to traffic throughout our work, although minor delays might be experienced at peak hours. We advise drivers to plan their journeys in advance.
We will be carrying out woodland management works alongside the M66 between Hills Lane bridge near Whitefield and junction 3 Pilsworth Interchange, near Bury.
We will be focusing on removing trees that are suffering from ash dieback disease that over time will make the trees weaker and unsafe, which is why we are acting now to remove them.
Our work will start on site on Tuesday 23 January and is scheduled to finish by the end of February 2024.
We have planned the work to minimise disruption to road users and residents. For this reason, some work will be carried out overnight, between 8pm and 6am, and some during the day.
The M66 will remain open throughout, however journeys may be delayed slightly by temporary closures of lane 1.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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