Drivers warned of delays on M60 over next two weekends

Tuesday, 26 August 2025 14:30

By George Lythgoe

Drivers across Greater Manchester can expect delays on one of the busiest sections of the M60 in the coming weeks.

Due to planned maintenance work and bridge repairs, motorists are being urged to avoid the anti-clockwise section of M60 around junction 19 for Middleton and Heaton Park over the next two weekends.

Work along the motorway route requires lane closures on Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7 and again on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14.

Only one lane on the anti-clockwise section will be open during these two weekends, so National Highways are predicting significant congestion.

National Highways programme delivery manager, Mangat Bansal, said: “We’ve worked really hard to minimise the impact of these roadworks on drivers’ journeys by doing most of the repairs overnight when the motorway is less busy and keeping all three lanes running and the slip road open during the day.

“This is the only phase of the project which will have an impact on drivers’ daytime journeys and while we’ve chosen the quietest part of the week significant congestion at times is inevitable.

“We’d like to thank motorway users in advance for their support and patience and urge them to plan journeys around junction 19 to avoid the congestion during next month’s weekend working.”

National Highways is also delivering major repairs on a bridge carrying the anti-clockwise carriageway over the River Irk near the exit slip road at junction 19.

The £1.3 million scheme, which started in July, includes re-waterproofing the bridge on the anti-clockwise carriageway and installing new central reservation barriers. It is to extend the lifespan of the bridge and reduce the need for further, unplanned repairs and roadworks in the long term.

The following arrangements will be in place over the two weekends beginning Friday, September 5 and Friday, September 12:

From 6am on September 6 until 9pm on September 7: anti-clockwise reduced to one lane through junction 19 with the exit slip road closed at junction 19.
From 6am on September 13 to 9pm on September 14: anti-clockwise carriageway reduced to one lane but closed at junction 19 with drivers directed along the exit slip road and rejoining the anti-clockwise M60 via the entry slip road from the junction roundabout – an ‘off and on’ diversion.

National Highways have said that during both weekends there will be brief Friday night and Sunday night overnight closures of the carriageway to install and remove traffic management – with diversions in place.

The project is expected to be completed in November.