SECTIONS of the M60 and M62 will be closed overnight for six nights this month (January) while work continues on Manchester’s smart motorway upgrade.

Contractors for Highways England need to close short stretches of the motorway to install temporary narrow lanes on the M60 between junctions 15 (M61 interchange) and 18 (M66/M62 interchange), and to remove supporting posts for overhead gantries on the M62 between junctions 19 (Heywood) and 20 (Rochdale).

When the smart motorway goes live, variable speed limits will be used along the route to keep traffic moving. The temporary narrow lanes between junctions 15 and 18 of the M60 will allow engineers to install technology at the side of the motorway needed to monitor the flow of traffic.

The narrow lanes will mean four lanes can be kept open in each direction while also providing additional space at the side of the motorway so that work can be carried out safely.

The anticlockwise side of the M60 will be closed overnight between junctions 18 and 17 on Monday, January 11, and between junctions 17 and 14 on Tuesday, January 12. The clockwise carriageway will then be closed overnight between junctions 14 and 17 on Wednesday, January 13, and between junctions 17 and 18 on Thursday, January 14.

The M62 will also be closed overnight in both directions between junctions 19 and 20 on January 9 and 16. All of the closures will take place between 10pm and 6am, with clearly-signed diversions in place.

To stay up to date with the latest developments, visit: www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m60-junction-8-to-m62-junction-20.