Warning of travel chaos as major trans-Pennine rail and road routes close for repair

The route is closed for two weekends for repair work. Credit: Network Rail

Thousands of travellers are being urged to delay their journeys ahead of the closure of a railway bridge and motorway for a second weekend of repair work.

Work on a £22 million railway bridge on the route between Manchester and Leeds will see both the train line and M62 motorway shut between Heywood and Rochdale for two weekends.

Network Rail is replacing the 2,000 tonne railway bridge which crosses the M62 between junction 19 at Heywood and junction 20 at Rochdale.

The road was closed between 6 and 9 September, which caused "significant if unsurprising congestion" on the route.

National Highways are warning of more disruption when the motorway is closed once again from 20 and 23 September.

In July two 42 metre, 70 tonne steel beams were delivered to the site ready to be installed during the closure. Credit: Network Rail

When will the closures be?

M62 - eastbound carriageway between J18 and J20, and westbound carriageway between J19 and J20

  • From 9pm on Friday 6 September to 6am on Monday 9 September

  • From 9pm on Friday 20 September to 6am on Monday 23 September

Rail travel between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale

  • From 6 September until the early morning of 25 September.

  • Rail replacement buses will be in operation.

  • Passengers are advised to check their travel in advance as journey times will be significantly longer than usual.

Gary Farrell, from National Highways, said: “During the first weekend closure we had significant if unsurprising congestion at times on the approaches to the closure along both the clockwise M60 and westbound M62 as well as the diversion routes.

“This weekend, queues are likely again along the M60, M62 and diversion routes especially during the day and we strongly urge people planning to travel to delay their journeys or use alternative routes well away from this part of the motorway network.

“At the very least people should be checking for congestion or incidents before setting out and leaving extra time for journeys."

The 138ft-long bridge, known as Castleton bridge, over the motorway is used by trains travelling from West Yorkshire to Greater Manchester.

It carries 6% of the UK’s energy supply across the country, as freight trains transport material to and from Drax power station in Selby.

Diversion routes are in place. Credit: National Highways

Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as 6% of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.

“I’d like to thank passengers and motorists for their understanding while we carry out this work. It is a unique project that sees weekend closures of the M62 for the first time."

What will the motorway diversion be?

Eastbound drivers:

  • Use the strategic road network with drivers from the M66 or clockwise M60 and reaching Simister Island travelling to junction 21 of the M60 at Chadderton.

  • They should then use the northbound A663 (Broadway) and northbound A627M to join the M62 at junction 20.

Westbound drivers:

  • Those diverted off the westbound M62 at junction 20 will be sent back onto the motorway via Middleton – using the southbound A627(M), southbound A664 Rochdale Road and northbound A6046 Hollin Lane, re-joining the M62 at junction 19.

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