Preparatory works for major Simister Island scheme to take place this week

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 15:07

By George Lythgoe

Work has started to to transform a major M60 motorway junction – with FIVE LANES of traffic and a new link road all on the cards.

Simister Island interchange, which connects the M60, M62 and M66 motorways, has been earmarked for a massive change under National Highways proposals. The scheme aims to reduce congestion, improve journey times and create a safer route through what is one of the North West’s busiest motorway junctions.

The project would see a ‘northern loop’ built to stop thousands of vehicles using the current traffic light controlled roundabout every day.

A five-lane section on both sides of the M60 between Prestwich and Simister (junctions 17 and 18) has been touted as well. The M66 on the Bury side of the junction would also be widened with new lanes introduced at the interchange and a second lane added from the M60 northbound link.

Progress on the proposals has been stalled after the Transport Secretary called for a spending review into all their major road schemes last year. Currently National Highways are waiting on a decision from the Secretary of State following their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO).

The surveys taking place this week, next to the motorways, are being carried out to inform the design for the scheme. National Highways are carrying out small-scale ground investigation surveys in fields to the north west of junction 18 (Simister island).

A National Highways spokesperson said: “In March 2020, the Government’s second Road Investment Strategy included a commitment for Highways England to improve Simister Island Interchange between the M62, M60 and M66.

“Simister Island Interchange is one of the busiest motorway junctions in the north-west used by around 90,000 vehicles each day. The junction struggles with such high volumes of traffic above what it was designed for, and as a result suffers from congestion and poor journey time reliability.

“The project will improve junction 18 of the M60 and facilitate smoother flows of traffic along the connecting motorways, contributing to more reliable and safer journeys into and around Greater Manchester.”