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Background Information
M60 Jct 5 to 8 (formerly M63 Jct 6 to 9) Widening
The need for widening the motorway
This section of the Manchester Orbital Ring Road carries both strategic long distance traffic and local traffic. For many years the motorway has carried more vehicles than it was designed to carry and this has resulted in congestion at peak periods. The widened motorway will assist the free flow of traffic on the M60 itself and on the local roads which some vehicles use at present to avoid delays on the motorway.
The background
A feasibility report for widening the M60 between Junctions 7 and 5 to a dual 4-lane motorway concluded that although it was possible to widen within the highway boundary, the benefits of the widening would be limited because of the reduction in standard between junctions 7 and 8. The study was then expanded to incorporate Junction 8. Public Consultation was held in June 1992 on the proposed route. This involved widening the motorway, closing Junction 6 and making major changes to Junction 7. As a result of the Public Consultation, the Department decided to keep Junction 6 open and reduce Junction 7 from a 3 level to a 2 level junction.
A Preferred Route was then announced by the Secretary of State in December 1992 and draft Orders were published in 1994.
A Public Inquiry was held in 1995 following which work on the scheme was suspended. In 1998 the government reviewed the scheme and included the widening in its Targeted Programme of Improvements.
How will the motorway be widened?
The M60 main carriageway is being widened by one lane in each direction. The motorway will be widened on the side that is most appropriate in order to:
- minimise the effects on residential property:
- minimise the effects on Sale Water Park, (Trafford Water Sports Centre);
- minimise delays to traffic during construction; and
- improve operational performance.
The two small roundabouts at Junction 8 will be replaced by a single roundabout which will be above the motorway. The layout at Junction 7 will be very similar to the existing layout with the motorway crossing over Chester Road and four slip roads allowing all traffic movements at the junction. At Junction 6 the large roundabout will be replaced by two smaller roundabouts connected by a road beneath the motorway. The layout at Junction 5 will remain basically unchanged.
Junctions 7 and 6 are too close together, making it difficult for traffic to change lanes, or "weave", safely. It is therefore proposed to extend the existing parallel link roads between Junctions 8 and 7 as far as Junction 6.
Extensive measures will be undertaken to blend the widened motorway into the existing landscape and to reduce its impact. These measures will include shaped earthworks and comprehensive tree and shrub planting. Wildlife will be fully protected during construction of the widening and where habitats are unavoidably lost, new habitats will be created to replace them. A low noise road surfacing will be used to reduce traffic noise.
Although the widening of the motorway will require additional land, retaining walls will be used in certain locations to reduce the area of land required.
