Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

This scheme was developed and constructed to 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. The traffic using both new links no longer needs to use the junction roundabout, thus reducing congestion and delays significantly and improving road safety.

Improved, safer provision for pedestrians and cyclists was 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 were 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 was realigned. The disused Potters Pits Mineral Railway bridge was fully refurbished and extended to provide a new footbridge/cycleway crossing the M62 east of the existing junction.

Minor changes to the existing local roads were 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.

The new Link A opened to traffic on 14 November 2008.

The new Link C opened to traffic on 12 December 2008.

Following successful completion of the works and the opening of both the new links a completion of works ceremony was held on 23 January 2009 with a plaque unveiled by the Minister of Transport Lord Adonis.