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• M60 J15-12 Lane Gain

Scheme History

In 2001 the Department for Transport commissioned a consortium of consultants to undertake a multi modal study to assess the transport pressures in the M60 Junction 18 to 12 corridor. A multi modal study looks at all the passenger and freight transport options including roads, buses, trams, trains, walking and cycling not in isolation but in an integrated way to provide joined up solutions to transport problems.

The objective of the multi modal study was to identify solutions that would keep traffic moving whilst at the same time not having unacceptable impacts on the local road network, the communities it passes through or the environment.

The first part of the study was an extensive consultation exercise with organisations, stakeholders and members of the public to ensure that people had the opportunity to voice their opinions and put forward solutions. Over 5,000 people took an active part in the consultation process; attending exhibitions, returning questionnaires, phoning, writing and taking part in discussions. The overarching conclusion of the consultation process was that congestion is the major problem between Junction 18 and 12 of the M60, with the worst location being around Junction 13.

The second part of the study involved assembling the solutions identified in the first part and assessing them to determine if they were feasible and if they met the studies objectives.

This assessment work was completed in January 2003 with the publication of the multi modal study final report. The report identified a preferred strategy to improve the junction 18 to 12 section of the M60 motorway. The preferred strategy contained a number of elements; one of which was the creation of a 4th lane on the anticlockwise carriageway, within the existing highway boundary, between junctions 15 and 12.

In accepting the general conclusions of the Multi-Modal Study, the Secretary of State announced in July 2003 that he would be instructing the Highways Agency to take forward preparatory work on a scheme to provide a fourth lane anti-clockwise between Junctions 15 and 12 from within the existing highway boundary.  The project was delayed as a number of reviews were undertaken, but the decision to proceed was finally given in the Ministerial announcement on the National Roads Programme in January 2009.

M60 J15 to 12

The M60 between Junctions 15 and 12 is approximately 3 miles (4 kilometres) long and has 4 lanes in the clockwise direction (with 3 lanes at J12 and J15). In the anticlockwise direction, it has 3 lanes up to Junction 13, 4 lanes between Junction 13 & Junction 12 and 2 lanes at Junction 12.

The section of the M60 between junctions 15 and 12 carries large volumes of traffic with a diverse range of origins and destinations. This section of our network forms part of the Trans European Road Network and the core trunk road network, catering for national and international strategic movements, particularly east - west movements along the M62 corridor across the Pennines.

Junctions 15 to 12 is also part of M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road which means it also caters for more regional and local traffic movements, distributing local travellers around the Greater Manchester conurbation and linking them with other motorways (M66, M61, M602, M56, M6 and M67). 

Existing Situation

The whole length of the M60 between Junctions 15 and 12 is now under considerable stress and experiences significant congestion during peak periods which are extending in duration; congestion can also occur outside of peak periods.

The close spacing of the junctions in conjunction with the high volumes of local traffic using the motorways for only short distances, results in high volumes of weaving, merging and diverging movements. This causes significant disruption to the flow of traffic, particularly longer distance, resulting in congestion and delays.

The M60 between Junctions 12 and 13 at Worsley is the busiest section of motorway in the North West and one of the busiest in the UK.  Occurrences of queuing and very low speeds are common, especially during peak periods. In normal conditions average speeds between Junctions 15 and 12 can drop to as low as 15 mph. During bad weather, roadworks or incidents speeds fall further still and queuing can be severe.

Delays arise particularly between Junctions 12 and 13 and on the approaches to Junction 15, where morning peak period congestion on the anti-clockwise carriageway of the M60 results in long queues of standing traffic on the southbound carriageway of the M61. 

Congestion is also having an impact on the local road network as traffic is unable to access the motorway. This is a particular problem at Junction 13 where these delays impact on pedestrians, cyclists, local residents and buses passing through the junction.