MOTORISTS have been warned to expect delays as a major construction scheme starts on a busy motorway.

A new three-mile long steel barrier is set to be installed on the M602, replacing the existing railing which has become corroded in places.

The project begins on Monday, February 10, and is set to last until July 31.

Highways England, the government body behind the work, says the project has been planned in phases to reduce disruption to drivers and that delays will only add 90 seconds on to journey times.

However, the first stage of the will involve temporary narrow lanes being installed between Junction 2 for Eccles and Junction 3 at the end of the M602, close to Manchester city centre, so that a construction area can be created in the centre of the motorway.

Reduced speed limits will be introduced, restricting drivers to 40mph on the westbound carriageway and 50mph on the eastbound carriageway.

“The existing barrier has been there since the motorway was opened so we need to replace it with a new steel barrier to help keep drivers safe and prevent vehicles crossing onto the opposite carriageway," explained Ross Hepburn, project manager at Highways England.

“We will be keeping two lanes open in each direction during the day throughout the project which means there will be no reduction in capacity for drivers travelling to and from Manchester.

“We’re also carrying out the work in phases so that the reduced speed limits are only needed on short stretches of the motorway, adding less than 90 seconds to drivers’ journeys.”

The Bolton News:

Some overnight carriageway closures will be in place between 9pm and 5am during the first week of the scheme while contractors install narrow lanes and temporary safety barriers on the motorway.

A diversion will take drivers along the A576 Gilda Brook Road and the A57 Eccles New Road when the motorway is closed between junctions 2 and 3.

The second phase of the project is due to start in May and will take place between Junction 2 for Eccles and Junction 1, where the motorway connects to the M62 and M60.

The existing barrier was installed when the motorway first opened in the 1970s and 1980s and is being replaced with a new un-tensioned steel barrier, which will require less maintenance.

More details are available at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/regions/north-west.