Highways Agency

The Project

This proposal will improve the busy junction 6 of the M62 by adding two direct connections, one from the M57 southbound to the M62 eastbound and the other from M62 westbound to the M57 northbound. This traffic will no longer need to use the present junction roundabout, thus reducing congestion and delays significantly and improving road safety.

Improved, safer provision for pedestrians and cyclists will be included in the new layout. This proposal was re-introduced into the trunk road Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) in 2001 - this is now known as the Programme of Major Schemes. The Secretary of State confirmed the preferred route in October 2003 and an exhibition was held in Huyton to present the proposals to the public.

Background

The Highways Agency awarded a contract to Laing O’Rourke, and their designer Pell Frischmann, under the Highways Agency’s Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) initiative in January 2005, to take the scheme forward. This allowed for detailed planning work to be carried out while the scheme was taken through the statutory procedures.

On 17 March 2006 the Secretary of State published the proposals for the scheme in the form of draft Orders.

The connecting roads will be built between the M62 westbound and the M57 northbound (Link C, single lane link) and between M57 southbound and M62 eastbound (Link A, two lane link). The existing slip road from the roundabout to M62 westbound will be realigned. The existing disused Potters Pits Mineral Railway bridge will be refurbished and extended to provide a new footbridge/cycleway crossing the M62 east of the existing junction.

Minor changes to the existing local roads will be required to facilitate the improvements.

A Public Inquiry took place in October 2006. The Inquiry sat for 2 days during which time evidence was heard from both the representatives of the Highways Agency, supporters of the scheme and from various objectors.

Following receipt of the Inspector’s Report recommending that the Orders were made as drafted the Secretary Of State announced his decision on 17 January 2007 confirming that the scheme should go ahead.

Copies of the decision letter and the Inspectors Report are available on the Department of Transport’s website www.dft.gov.uk.

The Orders were confirmed on 9 February 2007.

The notice to proceed was issued to the Contractor Laing O’Rourke at the end of March 2007 and work officially commenced on 16 April 2007.

What has happened so far since the start of the works?

Work has now been underway on site for over twelve months. During the first 8 weeks our focus was on minimising the effects of the scheme on the ecology and archaeology of the immediate area. The work included erection of newt proof fencing to keep them off the site, the re-positioning of hedges and other flora and an archaeological evaluation of the site.

The last few months (December to May) have seen the earthworks progress and much of the surfacing on Link A take shape. The embankments for Link C along with the street lighting, safety barrier erection and surfacing is progressing.

Work on the new bridge for the M62 west bound on slip has been completed and opened on 22 May.

The construction of Windy Arbor Bridge over Link A continues to progress. The temporarily diversion of Windy Arbor Road remains in place whilst the bridge is being built.

When will the new slips roads be open?

The re-aligned M62 westbound entry slip road is now open.

We hope to open both of the new link roads in October 2008.

Traffic Management News

A full overnight closure of both carriageways of the M62 between Junctions 6 and 7 is planned for Monday 14 July between the hours of 9pm and 6am the following morning. This is to allow for the erection of new gantries.

Full overnight closures of both carriageways of the M57 between Junctions 1 and 2 are planned for Wednesday 23 July, Friday 1 August and Monday 4 August. These closures will be between the hours of 9pm and 6am the following mornings. These are also to allow for the erection of gantries.

There will be clearly signed diversion routes in place for all the closures.

A5300 Off Slip Bridge - June/July - Overnight closures

Overnight closures are planned for the A5300 Off Slip Bridge.

We are presently constructing the deck for the new bridge over the A5300 off slip road. The new beams were lifted into position in early June. During the next two months, we will require the closure of the off slip to allow further work to take place safely over the carriageway. As this is the last junction before the A5300 northbound becomes the M57 we have to close the A5300 at Speke Boulevard Roundabout. This is to avoid forcing non-motorway traffic onto the M57. The closures will take place overnight to limit delays. Diversion routes will be put in place and clearly signed.

We are trying to minimise disruption to road users by designing our traffic management to avoid lane closures wherever possible. Generally we have managed to keep 3 lanes open in each direction of the M62 although we have needed to close the hard shoulder in places.

See the FOI/EIR requests related to the road M62