£1m safety boost for Salford motorway bridges

National Highways, which operates the M602, is providing the improvements to three bridges over the motorway at Eccles and Weaste. Langworthy Road, Derby Road and Weaste Road bridges, between junction 2 and junction 3 of the motorway, will each benefit from new safety fencing with the installation of 1.8 metre high parapets capped with protective ‘steeples’. 

The footpaths across the bridges will also be resurfaced and parking restrictions, backed by road markings, will also be introduced.

All three bridges also cross the main Manchester to Liverpool railway line. National Highways’ improvements, backed by Network Rail and Salford Council, will complement existing safety fences over the railway tracks.

National Highways project manager Ian Spence said:

“Local people will appreciate this is an important safety project. While we are doing all we can to minimise inconvenience to bridge users during the work some restrictions, especially overnight, will be in place.”

The project will start on Monday (24 November) and is expected to last for up to six months focusing initially along Derby Road bridge which will be totally closed until Thursday 18 December.  From early January, for up to a month, overnight temporary traffic lights will be in place along Langworthy Road and Weaste Road bridges – with traffic management removed during the day.

Rebecca Rathore, Route Strategy Director for Network Rail said: 

“We are pleased to work with National Highways on their important project in Salford which will improve safety for pedestrians and road users.

“There will be no impact to rail services during the work and railway colleagues are on board to help this project run safely and smoothly.”

More information on the project, including details of diversions during Derby Road bridge closure are available on a dedicated webpage: 

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/north-west/north-west-maintenance-schemes/

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)