manchester news
Thursday, 13th October 2005
£5M work to bring year of M62 hold-ups
Stephen Foster MOTORISTS using the M62 can expect delays over the next 12 months after work to improve access to the Kingsway Business Park started on Monday.
The massive project is part of the £5M remodelling of junction 21 at Milnrow that will make it easier to get in and out of the 170,000 hectare site, which is currently under construction. Diggers moved in last week to start laying drains.
Although three lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during the work, each will be narrowed and temporary 50mph speed limits will be enforced with speed cameras.
It is expected the work will continue until autumn next year, although traffic restrictions will change as the work progresses.
Paul Elliott, the Highways Agency projects manager, said: “Kingsway Business Park is one of the biggest developments in the North West and when it is complete it will lead to thousands of jobs. It is vital that we improve junction 21 so that it is able to cope with the additional traffic that the site will create.
“We have worked very closely with the developers to ensure that we minimise the impact on the 100,000 vehicles that use this stretch of the M62 every day.
“We do not expect any significant delays and will advise motorists when further changes are needed to help them plan their journeys. We would advise motorists to be patient and take extra care.”
The improvements to junction 21 include:
- The replacement of the existing eastbound slip road.
- Improvements to the westbound slip road.
- Modification of sections of the existing motorway slip roads which will become local roads open to all types of traffic.
- The construction of a new dual carriageway and two roundabouts between the existing Elizabethan Way roundabout and the new eastbound exit slip road.
The junction improvements are being overseen by the Highways Agency and paid for by Wilson Bowden Developments and the North West Development Agency in association with Rochdale Council.
An acoustic fence will also be built between Ashfield Lane and the motorway slip road.
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