Traffic bulletin: Overnight M62 closures following successful bridge demolition
Drivers are being reminded that a key section of the M62 will be closed nightly in both directions over the next two weeks.
Network Rail is replacing a railway bridge over the M62 between junction 19 at Heywood and junction 20 at Rochdale. The old bridge was successfully removed during a weekend closure of the motorway this weekend.
The motorway re-opened shortly before 5am today – more than an hour early - following Network Rail’s demolition of the bridge.
The latest phase of the project, with engineers needing access to the site to work on bridge supports for the new bridge deck, starts tonight (Monday 9 September) with up to 11 overnight closures before the next full weekend closure on Friday 20 September. During this phase of the work both the eastbound and westbound carriageways will be closed from 9pm to 6am each night in both directions between junction 19 and junction 20 – slightly different from the weekend’s arrangement when the eastbound carriageway was closed from junction 18.
Clearly-signed diversions will be in place.
Drivers are also being reminded there will also be some overnight closures of the M62 between Huddersfield and Brighouse in West Yorkshire over the next fortnight with the westbound M62 closed between junction 25 and junction 24 tonight, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday (9, 10, 11 and 12 September). The eastbound M62 between junction 24 and junction 25 will then be closed on Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 September. In addition to these westbound or eastbound nightly carriageway closures the westbound entry slip road at junction 25 will be closed overnight on Friday (13 September) with the eastbound exit slip road closed at junction 25 overnight on Thursday and Friday 19 and 20 September.
Motorway users are urged to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys - live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest and @HighwaysYorks – National Highways’ regional feeds on X.
National Highways has set up a webpage to keep commuters, businesses and other M62 users up to date with progress and planned closures related to the Network Rail project including diversion information. Network Rail is replacing Castleton bridge which carries the main railway line over the M62 between Manchester and Rochdale
The second weekend closure – from 9pm on Friday 20 September to 6am on Monday 23 September – will allow Network Rail to install a new bridge over the motorway.
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)
