M60 junction 18 Simister Island Interchange

Latest updates

• 10 February 2026

  Vegetation clearance starts in February

  We’ll clear overgrown vegetation around M60 junction 18 to allow safe access to work areas.

  Starting 16 February 2026, we'll work overnight (8pm-5am) Monday-Friday for three weeks. Our work depends on the weather but we should finish overnight on Friday 6 March.

  Closures

  To work safely: 

  • we'll close lanes on the M60 and M66 at times
  • on some nights, we'll need to fully close slip roads to and from the M60 and M66

  Monday 23 February - M62 junction 18 westbound exit slip road

  Closed overnight.

  Diversion:

  • remain on the M60 anticlockwise through junction 18 towards junction 17
  • leave the M60 at junction 17 and take the fourth exit back on the roundabout back to the M60 clockwise towards junction 18
  • at M60 junction 18 take the slip road to the M60 sign posted Ring road (E and S) Oldham
  • on the slip road, use the right hand lanes to join the roundabout and take the third exit signposted M60 Ring Road (E) 

  M62 junction 18 westbound exit slip road closure diversion route map

  Monday 23 to Friday 27 February - M66 junction 4 southbound exit slip road

  Closed overnight. Also one lane closed on M66 southbound between junction 3 and 4.

  Diversion:

  • remain on the M66 southbound as it becomes the M60 clockwise
  • leave the M60 at junction 19, taking the fourth exit on the roundabout back to the M60 anticlockwise towards the M60/M62 interchange
  • take the junction 18 exit to the M60 and M62 and use the right lanes to the M62 to Leeds

  M66 junction 4 southbound exit slip road closure diversion route map

  Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 February and Thursday 5 March - M66 southbound to M62 eastbound free-flow link road

  Closed overnight.

  Diversion:

  • remain on the M66 southbound as it becomes the M60 clockwise
  • leave the M60 at junction 19, taking the fourth exit on the roundabout back to the M60 anticlockwise towards the M60/M62 interchange
  • take the junction 18 exit to the M60 and M62 and use the right lanes to the M62 to Leeds

  M66 southbound to M62 free-flow link road closure diversion route map

  Tuesday 24 February and Monday 2 to Friday 6 March - M60 junction 18 clockwise free-flow link to M66 northbound

  Closed overnight. Also:

  • one lane closed on the M60 clockwise between junctions 17 to 18
  • two lanes closed on M60 junction 18 roundabout
  • one lane closed on the M66 northbound at junction 4
  • one lane closed on the M60 anticlockwise between junction 19 and 18 

  Diversion:

  • remain on the M60 clockwise through junction 18 and onto the M62 eastbound
  • remain on the M62 passing Birch Services towards junction 19 of the M62
  • at M62 junction 19, leave the motorway and then re-join the M62 westbound by taking the fourth exit (M62 Manchester, Bury (M66) Bolton (M61) Liverpool)
  • remain on the M62 until junction 18 and take the left lanes signed to Blackburn, Bury M66
  • join the M66 northbound at junction 4 towards junction 3

  M60 junction 18 clockwise free flow link to M66 northbound closure diversion route map

  Wednesday 25 February and Friday 6 March - M60 anticlockwise junction 17 exit slip road

  Closed overnight

  Diversion:

  • remain on the M60 anticlockwise and leave at junction 16
  • turn right, then right again to re-join the M60 clockwise at junction 16
  • remain on the M60 back towards junction 17
  • leave the M60 at junction 17 to join the A56 Bury New Road

  M60 anticlockwise junction 17 exit slip closure diversion route map

  Monday 2 and 3 March - M66 northbound junction 4 entry slip road

  Closed overnight.  Also two lanes of the M60 junction 18 roundabout closed.

  Diversion:

  • at the M60 junction 18 roundabout take the exit for M60 Ring Road (E and S) Oldham
  • join the M60 towards junction 19 and leave and re-join the M60 using the fourth exit from the roundabout onto the M60 westbound
  • at junction 18 use the right lanes to join the M66 for Bury, Burnley Blackburn, and remain on the M66 through junction 18

  M66 northbound junction 4 entry slip closure diversion route map

  Monday 2 March - M60 anticlockwise junction 18 exit slip road and free-flow link

  Closed overnight. Also one lane closed on M60 anticlockwise between junction 19 and 18.

  Diversion:

  • from the M60 anticlockwise at junction 18, use the right lanes to take the M66 northbound (Bury, Burnley Blackburn M66)
  • remain on the M66 to junction 3, leaving and turning right and then right again to re-join the M66 southbound (Manchester M66 Motorway (M62) Manchester, Ashton-Under-Lyne)
  • at junction 18 leave the M66 to join the M60 (M60 Ring road (W) Preston (M61) Liverpool (M62)).

  M60 anticlockwise junction 18 exit slip closure – diversion map.

  Tuesday 3 March - M60 anticlockwise free-flow link at junction 18

  Closed overnight. Also one lane closed on the M60 anticlockwise between junction 19 and 18.

  Diversion:

  • from the M60 anticlockwise at junction 18 join the M62 eastbound for Leeds
  • remain on the M62 until junction 19, then leave the motorway and then re-join the M62 westbound by taking the fourth exit (M62 Manchester, Bury (M66) Bolton (M61) Liverpool)
  • remain on the M62 towards junction 18 and use the right lanes (Ring road (W),(M6) Liverpool M62), Preston (M61), M60(W)) to rejoin the M60 anticlockwise.

  M60 anticlockwise free-flow link and entry slip closure – diversion map.

  Thursday 5 March - M62 junction 18 eastbound entry slip road

  Closed overnight. Also:

  • two lanes of the M60 junction 18 roundabout closed
  • one lane closed on the M66 southbound between junction 3 and 4
  • one lane closed on the M60 anticlockwise between junction 19 and 18 

  Diversion:

  • from the junction 18 roundabout join the M60 anticlockwise towards M60 Junction 17
  • at junction 17 take the exit to leave and then re-join the M60 clockwise using the fourth exit from the junction 17 roundabout
  • remain on the M60 clockwise towards and through junction 18 to the M62 east bound

  M62 Junction 18 eastbound entry slip road closed diversion route map 

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

• 10 September 2025

  M60 Simister Island

  On 9 September 2025, the Secretary of State for Transport approved our Development Consent Order (DCO) for the M60 junction 18 Simister Island Interchange scheme. 

  This approval grants us planning permission to move forward with work that will deliver smoother, safer and more reliable journeys on the motorways in and around Greater Manchester.

  We will provide a further update on delivery timescales as part of the next Road Investment Strategy, which will be published in March 2026.

  You can find out more on the Planning Inspectorate's website under ‘Documents.’

• 11 August 2025

  Scheme update and survey work

  We're waiting for the Secretary of State's decision on our Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

  In the meantime, we're conducting surveys to that will help us develop our detailed design for the scheme.

  Since April, we’ve conducted reptile, bat and invasive species surveys. These include visual inspections of trees and vegetation on land around the scheme area. 

  From now until the end of August, our teams will perform site investigations in fields near Simister Island (junction 18).

  All activity will take place during normal working hours (weekdays 8am to 5pm) and will be off the highway network.

  Spending review

  Find out about the outcome of the spending review and what it means for our scheme in our overview section.

  Keep in touch

  If you have any questions about this work:

  • email us at M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk.
  • call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000. 

• 06 August 2025

  Outcome of spending review

  Following the conclusion of the Government’s Spending Review, funding for the M60 junction 18 Simister Island Interchange scheme has now been confirmed. 

  The Government and National Highways remain committed to maintaining a safe and reliable road network, necessary to stimulate economic growth and enhance opportunities across the country.

  In the coming months, National Highways will be working closely with DfT to identify the most efficient and cost-effective delivery timetables for this project, subject to successful planning permission.  

  We will give a further update on delivery timings, as part of the next Road Investment Strategy which is scheduled to be published in March of next year. 

• 30 April 2025

  Scheme update and survey work

  As we await the decision from the Secretary of State regarding our application for a Development Consent Order (DCO), we’ll be conducting surveys to help inform the detailed design for the scheme. 

  You’re likely to see our teams in high vis working at locations near the proposed road development between the end of April to September 2025. We’ll be carrying out reptile, bat and invasive species surveys.

  These will include visual inspections of trees and vegetation on land around the scheme area. Where necessary, our contractors may need to climb trees to complete these inspections.

  In addition, during the week commencing 19 May 2025, we’ll be carrying out small-scale ground investigation surveys in fields to the north west of junction 18 (Simister island). These will involve hand dug pits to a depth of 1.2m and cone penetration tests to a depth of 10m. 

  None of these surveys involve extensive drilling or excavation and will be off-road. The work will take place during normal working hours (weekdays from 08:00 to 17:00). We expect minimal disruption or disturbance during this time.

  Spending review

  Please note, the Transport Secretary has commissioned a review of the Department for Transport's spending portfolio, including current and future road schemes. While the review is ongoing, we’re continuing with our work on the scheme. 

  Read the Secretary of State’s written statement to Parliament of 30 July 2024.

  Other work in your area

  We're currently upgrading safety barriers on the M60 between junctions 16 and 18 until August 2025. This is separate from the M60 junction 18 Simister Island Interchange scheme. Further information is available on our maintenance scheme page.

  Keep in touch

  If you have any questions about this work, please email us at M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk.
  Alternatively, you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000. 

   

• 10 February 2025

  Survey work

  Over the next couple of months, we’ll be carrying out drainage and technology surveys. These surveys involve manually inspecting and assessing existing drainage and technology assets within the highway verges and central reserve. The information we collect from these surveys will help us with the development of the detailed design for the scheme. 

  The survey work is scheduled to take place during the day on Monday 17 February until Friday 21 February 2025 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. And overnight from Monday 24 February through to Friday 7 March 2025 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Temporary traffic management will be in place to ensure the safety of our contractors while the work is carried out. 

  The survey areas will include the verges and central reserve between junctions 18 and 19 of the M60, the verges between junctions 17 and 18 of the M60, and the verges between junction 3 and 4 of the M66. Some surveys will also be required on the slip roads and link roads around junction 18 Simister Island. There may be some additional noise at these locations while the work is being carried out. 

  Please note, the Transport Secretary has commissioned a review of the Department for Transport's spending portfolio, including current and future road schemes. While the review is ongoing, we’re continuing with our work on the scheme, 

  Read the Secretary of State’s written statement to Parliament of 30 July 2024. 

  If you have any questions, feel free to email:

  M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk.

  Alternatively, you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000. 

   

• 11 October 2024

  Pavement surveys

  Next week, we’ll be carrying out pavement surveys, scheduled to take place overnight on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October 2024. These surveys involve extracting core samples from the road surface and reinstating it once the samples have been taken. Temporary traffic management will be in place to ensure the safety of our contractors while the work is carried out.

  The survey areas will include the M66 southbound carriageway beneath Simister Island, the slip road from the M62 westbound to the M60 southbound, and the slip road from the M60 eastbound to the M66 northbound. There may be some additional noise at these locations while the work is being carried out.

  Please note, the Transport Secretary has commissioned a review of the Department for Transport's spending portfolio, including current and future road schemes. While the review is ongoing, we’re continuing with our work on the scheme,

  Read the Secretary of State’s written statement to Parliament of 30 July 2024.

  If you have any questions, feel free to email: M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk.

  Alternatively, you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

• 01 May 2024

  Our Development Consent Order (DCO) application has been accepted

  The Planning Inspectorate has accepted our application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for detailed examination.
  
  As the M60 Junction 18 Simister Island scheme is a nationally significant infrastructure project, we need to apply for a DCO for the scheme as required by the Planning Act 2008.

  Notice of Hearings Relating to the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island Interchange

  Follow the progress of our DCO application

  Our application documents are available to be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate webpage.

  This page tells you the current stage of the DCO process and what happens in it. We're currently in the pre-examination stage

  You can also register to receive progress updates on the Planning Inspectorate's page. 

  The planning process is likely to take around 16 months including up to six months of examination, some taking place at public hearings.

  This Planning inspectorate video explains the stages of the DCO process.

  Keeping in touch

  Use the link on the right of this page to sign up for email updates on this webpage.
  
  If you have any questions about our latest updates, email: m60j18simisterislandinterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk 

• 07 December 2023

  Preparing to apply for development consent

  Since the public consultation earlier this year, we’ve been working hard to develop the design of the scheme prior to applying to the Planning Inspectorate for development consent.

  As a result of that process, and in response to your comments, we’ve made a number of changes to the design. These vary in scale from a reduction in the land needed for drainage to small realignments of the scheme boundary.

  We subsequently undertook a targeted consultation during the summer, to let those affected know about the changes and understand their views.

  What's coming up?

  We’re currently getting ready to submit our development consent order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate and expect to do this in early 2024. 

  Our application will include a wide range of supporting documents including:

  • the current design for the scheme
  • details of the land required
  • a detailed consultation report, summarising the consultation findings and explaining how they have informed changes to the scheme
  • environmental reports

  All of the documents will be available to view, subject to formal acceptance of our DCO application, on the Planning Inspectorate website. 

  The inspectors will then examine the application, inviting input from interested parties and statutory consultees. The examination period is a maximum of six months. 

  Following the examination, the Planning Inspectorate will present its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will then make the final decision on whether development consent should be granted. 

  You can find out more about the process by watching this DCO video explainer or on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  Meanwhile, we’ll carry on working on our detailed design throughout this process. If our application for development consent is successful, we expect to start construction work in 2025/26. Construction is expected to take approximately three years.

  Prior to starting any work on-site, we’ll be out in the community sharing our construction timelines and detailed plans. This will be an opportunity for people to meet the project team and ask any questions they may have. More details will be shared about how to participate in due course.   

  In the meantime, we’ll continue to post regularly about scheme progress here. You can keep up to date by signing up for updates.

• 29 June 2023

  Interim report on public consultation

  Following our public consultation between 15 February and 28 March 2023 we have produced an interim report.

  As set out in our Statement of Community Consultation, the interim report contains the initial feedback and views collected from the public and stakeholders through the consultation response form.

  All of the responses will help us to develop proposals further and understand any concerns about the project ahead of the Development Consent Order application.

  Read the interim report on public consultation.

  If you would like to request a copy of the interim report, please contact us via email: M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@nationalhighways.co.uk or call us on 0300 123 5000.

  What happens now?

  We are considering the consultation responses while further developing our proposal for the application for development consent.

  Our application will include a detailed consultation report which will summarise the consultation findings and explain how they have informed any changes or refinements to the scheme design.

  The report will be available to view following acceptance of the development consent application by the Planning Inspectorate.

  The Planning Inspectorate will then examine the application for development consent, with input from interested parties and statutory consultees. The examination period is a maximum of six months.

  Following the examination, the Planning Inspectorate will present its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will then make the final decision on whether the development consent should be granted.

  We’ll carry on working on our detailed design throughout this process and, if our application for development consent is successful, we expect to start construction work in 2025.

• 06 February 2023

  Consultation to get underway

  We’re preparing to hold a public consultation on the design changes we’ve made to the scheme since our last consultation in 2020.

  This is your opportunity to have a say on our proposals and shape the next stage of development.

  The consultation will take place from Wednesday 15 February to Tuesday 28 March 2023.

  During this time we’ll be holding public consultation events, online webinars and telephone events.

  In addition to the design changes, we’ve also carried out additional environmental surveys and monitoring. We want to hear your views on the most recent data and on our plans for reducing the environmental impacts of the scheme.

  When the consultation launches we’ll be uploading all of the materials to our consultation webpage, including an online response form.

  We have published our Statement of Community Consultation in local and national newspapers, which sets out how we’ll carry out this consultation.

  Make sure you are up to date with the latest scheme news by signing up for webpage updates.

• 27 January 2021

  Preferred route announcement

  We have chosen the Northern Loop option for improving Simister Island, which connects the M60, M62 and M66.

  View the northern loop option map.

  For more information about this route, see our Preferred Route Announcement brochure.

  This decision follows a two-month period of public consultation which we held in summer 2020, where over 67% of respondents preferred the Northern Loop.

  When selecting the preferred route, we considered several criteria, including the scheme objectives, safety, benefits, costs, environmental effects, construction and feedback from the consultation.

  This means that we’ll be building a new loop structure to provide a free-flow link road between the M60 eastbound to the M60 southbound, allowing drivers to continue along the M60 without having to leave the motorway, navigate the roundabout and re-join the same motorway.

  We’ll also build a new two-lane free-flow road from the M60 northbound to the M60 westbound to replace the existing single-lane, and widen the M66 southbound to four lanes through junction 18.

  As part of this project, we’ll also convert the hard shoulder into a permanent traffic lane between M60 junctions 17 and 18, providing 5 lanes in both directions.

  Next steps

  We’ll now continue with further surveys and assessments so we can develop the detailed design of the improved junction.

  This scheme is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. This means we’re required to make an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to obtain consent to build the project.

  The application will be made to the Planning Inspectorate, who will examine the application in public hearings and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will decide whether or not the project will go ahead.

  We plan to submit our application for a DCO by winter 2021/22, and a decision is expected in summer 2023. This short video explains the DCO process.

  We’ll be holding another consultation before our DCO submission. This is where we’ll want your feedback on a more detailed design of the junction.  We’ll continue to provide updates on this webpage as we progress, and you can subscribe for email alerts when we update this page.  

• 17 August 2020

  Consultation now closed

  Our public consultation has now closed. Thank you to everybody who took the time to provide us with your feedback on our scheme and the options we presented. We’ll now take time to analyse and consider the feedback we received. You can read our Report on Public Consultation which summaries the responses we received between June and August 2020.

  We will then make a ‘preferred route announcement’ following the consultation report. This is where we confirm which option we will take forward to improve Simister Island Interchange. We will use your feedback to help us make this decision.

  Although our consultation has now closed, we’d still like to hear from you. If you have any questions or would like more information about the project or what happens next, you can contact us on the following details:

  Email: M60J18SimisterIslandInterchange@highwaysengland.co.uk
  Telephone: 0300 123 5000 (Customer Contact Centre)
  Write to: M60 J18 Simister Island Interchange Project Team, Highways England, 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BN

  We may not post any updates about this scheme for some time while we analyse the responses, but we will be carrying out more engagement with communities and stakeholders when we reach our preferred route announcement. We hope to be able to hold face to face events for this, depending on social distancing restrictions at the time. You can subscribe to be alerted by email when we update this webpage in the future.
  
  This short video gives more information about how we develop major road projects and the process we expect to follow to obtain planning permission to build the scheme.