Thanks for drivers and residents following M62 weekend closures
National Highways is thanking motorway users, other drivers and local residents for their patience and support after a series of M62 closures and associated diversions over the last few weeks.
Network Rail was replacing a bridge over the M62 between junction 19 and junction 20 at Rochdale and the motorway needed to be closed for two full weekends - and nightly for almost a fortnight in between - to allow the work to be done safely.
That work was successfully completed by 3am this morning when a new bridge was installed and the motorway re-opened after the second Friday night to Monday morning weekend motorway closure.
Now Amy Williams, National Highways’ director for the North West, has thanked motorway users and local residents living along diversion routes near Middleton, Chadderton and Rochdale.
Amy said: “This was an essential, safety-critical project for Network Rail and allowing them to replace the bridge over two carefully-chosen weekends was a decision we took with a great deal of consideration and preparation over many months.”
“We would like to thank motorway users and people living along the diversion routes for their support and patience over the last few weeks during the two weekend closures and other overnight carriageway closures.”
National Highways revealed today that while Network Rail was busy demolishing the old bridge and installing a new one, its own staff made use of the weekend carriageway closures to do some work of their own – delivering concrete repairs and a comprehensive repair of a bridge expansion joint across the whole of the carriageway along the clockwise M60 junction 18 at Simister Island.
Bridge joints are the mechanisms in the carriageway which allow the bridge deck to safely expand and contract during changes in the weather – and doing the repair during the Network Rail project has removed the need for additional overnight carriageway closures and the associated inconvenience to motorway users.
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 enquiriesOption 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)
