SECTIONS of the M6 are set to be closed over the coming months are part of ongoing ‘upgrade’ work.

A project is underway to transform the major highway into a so-called ‘smart motorway’, with all lanes running at peak times.

At present, National Highways has finished building close to 200 new drainage chambers and 4,000 metres of new drainage systems between junctions 21a for the M62 at Croft Interchange and 24 for Ashton-in-Makerfield.

The construction of the new concrete central reservation is underway, and the agency has started resurfacing what will be lane four of the finished motorway with a low-noise surface.

Workers have been completing around 1.3km of the central reservation each month.

Between junctions 24 and 26 for the M58 at Orrell, deep excavation work continues in verge areas to allow teams to drill underneath the road.

This is to allow for electric and technology services to pass from one side of the carriageway to the other without having to close the road or dig it up, reducing disruption on road users.

Work is also continuing to prepare areas ahead of installing new signs, gantries and CCTV cameras.

Some 300 metres of drainage work has been carried out, moving enough material to fill six and a half Olympic sized swimming pools.

In the coming months, National Highways is planning to close sections of the M6 between junctions 21a and 24 to install the next phase of traffic management.

The closures will allow teams to move from working in the central reservation to the remaining verge areas.

The overnight closures, between 9pm and 6am, will take place on the following dates:

  • Monday, June 13 – M6 southbound between junctions 26 and 23
  • Tuesday, June 14 – M6 northbound between junctions 26 and 23
  • Monday, June 20 – M6 southbound between junctions 23 and 22
  • Tuesday, June 21 – M6 northbound between junctions 22 and 23
  • Wednesday, July 6 – M6 southbound between junctions 23 and 22
  • Thursday, July 7 – M6 northbound between junctions 22 and 23
  • Friday, July 8 – M6 southbound between junctions 22 and 21a
  • Monday, July 11 – M6 northbound between junctions 21a and 22

Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place for each closure.

National Highways says that when moving the traffic management measures, nearby residents may notice more noise in the area than normal.

“We will be making every effort to reduce the noise as much as possible and will be following industry best practice,” a spokesman said.

“Nonetheless, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

“We always aim to work to schedule, however unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather may mean changes occur at short notice, and this may change the dates above.”