A key cross-county motorway will close this weekend affecting thousands of drivers across East Lancashire.

National Highways are closing a section of the M62 in Greater Manchester from 9pm tonight (Friday) until 6am on Monday, with further work between Friday September 9 to Monday September 23.

This is to enable Network Rail to dismantle and remove Castleton bridge which carries trains running between Manchester and Rochdale over the motorway.

The motorway carries around 120,000 vehicles a day and this is the first closure of the road “in recent memory".

It will affect East Lancashire motorists heading towards Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Hull particularly those coming from Rossendale and Hyndburn.

Due to the timings of the work over weekends, different closure and diversion arrangements will be in place for the westbound and eastbound carriageways – with the eastbound carriageway being closed from junction 18 of the M62 at Simister Island interchange to junction 20 of the M62 at Rochdale. 

The westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 at Rochdale and junction 19 at Heywood.

Eastbound drivers will be diverted onto the M60, A663 and A627(M).

The westbound diversion route involves the A627(M), A664 and A6046.

National Highways’ senior network planner Gary Farrell said: “Network Rail clearly needs to replace what is an ageing bridge and a critical piece of the railway’s infrastructure supporting the important Manchester Victoria to Leeds service and other routes.

“We’ve been working with staff from Network Rail for many months to plan and publicise this work including the two full weekend closures.

“We are urging drivers to avoid this section of the M62 during the two weekends by delaying journeys or planning alternative routes – but anyone who does need to use the M62 over the two weekends should follow the official diversions and not rely on sat nav advice.

“We would like to thank motorway users and anyone living along the diversion routes for their patience and support.”

Mr Farrell added that National Highways will be utilising the closures to complete as much routine maintenance as possible, reducing the need to block lanes and carriageways at other times.

Following more than six months of work to create a safe-to-work site at the location and prepare the required materials, the M62 has also been down to three lanes since July 28, which is expected to last until October 18.

Drivers are being advised that alternative routes between Manchester and Sheffield via roads such as the M67, A57, A628 and A616.

AA spokesman Tony Rich said: “We would urge all drivers to plan while this vital work is carried out to this incredibly busy section of motorway.

“Be sure to have plenty of fuel or EV charge on board to account for the diversions.”

The bridge replacement also means the railway will be closed between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale until the early morning of September 25.

Rail replacement buses will be in operation, with passengers warned that journey times will be “significantly longer than usual”.

Olivia Boland, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as 6% of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.

“I’m very sorry for the inconvenience our work will cause motorists and passengers.”