Six big questions answered on the Simister Island upgrade

Last month a massive Greater Manchester motorway upgrade was announced which will affect millions of journeys a year.

Last month a massive Greater Manchester motorway upgrade was announced which will affect millions of journeys a year.

The National Highways project was approved to address issues with the notoriously congested Simister Island in Greater Manchester. The project, affecting the M60, M62 and M66 routes, would see a ‘northern loop’ built to allow thousands of vehicles a day to bypass the current traffic light-controlled roundabout.

Simister Island is used by about 90,000 vehicles a day, which National Highways said is many more than it was designed for. The interchange is close to the residential areas of Whitefield, Prestwich, Simister and Middleton.
The Department for Transport confirmed approval of the scheme, which National Highways claims will result in ‘more reliable and safer journeys’ through the interchange.

Here we take a deeper dive into the elements of the upgrade and answer six key questions about the project:

What is the new ‘Northern Loop’ at the junction?

The Northern Loop will be a new free-flow link from M60 eastbound to M60 southbound carriageways.

The loop will allow drivers to continue along the M60 without having to leave the motorway, navigate the current Simister roundabout and re-join the M60.
Its construction will involve building a new viaduct called the Pike Fold viaduct.

Building the loop will also mean the realignment of the M66 southbound slip road to M60 junction18 to accommodate it, including a new overbridge (Pike Fold viaduct) where the slip road crosses the Northern Loop and realignment of the left turn lane to the M62 eastbound.

During consultation on the scheme Bury council said that the proposed Northern Loop would not compromise the delivery of the nearby Northern Gateway industrial and commercial development which they say will bring thousands of new jobs to the area.

During the consultation on the project it was considered that the Northern Loop would provide greater capacity improvements and journey time
savings for road users when compared to improving inner links at Simister.
National Highways went on to state that the benefits would therefore be felt for longer into the future, as predicted traffic levels continued to grow.

They added that as the Northern Loop option removed the need for additional lanes and signals going through the junction, they considered that it would be less confusing for drivers.

How will congestion be eased for traffic coming from the Oldham and Middleton areas at the junction?

At a pinch point of current congestion, the project aims to ease traffic flows with the  construction of a new two-lane free-flow road from the M60 northbound to the M60 westbound.

The double lane will replace the existing single-lane, where traffic often backs up, and widen the M66 southbound to four lanes through junction 18.

The re-aligned M60 on-slip road will be built on an embankment that merges onto the improved M60 westbound starting from a point 120 metres south of Simister Lane overbridge and ending at a point 250 metres east of Sandgate Road overbridge.

The works include the alteration of two portal gantries above the M60.

Will there be extra lanes built on the core motorway?

Yes, there will be a conversion of the hard shoulder into a permanent traffic lane between M60 junctions 17 and 18, providing five lanes in both directions.
That means a five lane section of the M60 on both sides between Prestwich and Simister would be introduced.

Are there any community benefits away from the roads in the scheme?

Improvements to a pedestrian tunnel linking communities on either side of the M60 will form part of the project.

Campaigners say the Haweswater underpass, which links the Hillock estate, in the Besses area of Whitefield to Prestwich ‘has the potential to provide a green way for children to walk and cycle to schools’.

It’s estimated that around 70 people, mostly children, currently pass through the ‘tunnel’ to get to school each day.

However, the underpass has no paved surface or lighting, is currently strewn with litter and covered in graffiti and remains extremely muddy, even during one the driest springs and summers on record this year.

A commitment by National Highways to improve the tunnel has now been given after the approval.

The Prestwich side of the tunnel is close to both St Margaret’s primary and Parrenthorn secondary schools.

The only other nearby pedestrian route from one side of the M60 to the other is the bridge over the motorway on Sandgate Road.

When will the project start and how much will it cost?

Although full approval has been granted and the Government said the project is funded it will be a while until work starts.

In fact, National Highways said an indication on when construction starts won’t be until next spring.

Speaking when the approval was granted, a spokesman, said: “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.”

Why has the investment come now?

The government said the Simister upgrade was one of 21 decisions made on major infrastructure projects in the first year of this Parliament.

They also include the Lower Thames Crossing, Mona Offshore windfarm and the expansion to Gatwick airport.

Commenting  on the Simister Island announcement, Christian Wakeford MP for Bury South said:

“The Simister Island news is a vital upgrade in infrastructure with Northern Gateway going ahead in the neighbouring area.

“Backed by over £92 billion from the spending review settlement, Labour is delivering the biggest boost to England’s transport infrastructure in a generation, and unlocking schemes that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth.

“This upgrade will ease congestion, cut journey times and bring greater access to jobs and opportunities, making working people better off.

“It will connect to developments which could support 20,000 new jobs and 7,000 new homes which have also been confirmed as funded.”