A £10 million facelift for a four-mile stretch of the M62 from Simister is set to cause disruption for the next six months.

Motorists have been warned to map out alternative routes, take public transport, or allow extra time for their journeys while improvement works are carried out between junctions 18 (Simister) and 20 (Thornham).

The programme will also include resurfacing of the M66 between Bury and Simister junctions.

Repairs were due to begin on Monday (Oct 14), but heavy rain last weekend forced a delay to preparations. Narrow lanes and a 50mph limit are now due to be imposed on the M62 by the end of this week.

The scheme will mean improvements to road surfaces, improved lighting, new safety fences, drainage work and bridge strengthening.

Highways Agency Project Manager Graeme Freeman said: "This is a particularly busy stretch of motorway, and we have made a concerted effort to advise as many motorists as possible about the consequences of this essential maintenance.

"Motorists will notice significant changes when the cones are set out and the road markings changed.

"We have done everything we can to minimise disruption and maintain the capacity of the M62. But it is inevitable that on a motorway which carries 130,000 vehicles every day there will be some delays, especially at peak hours. That's why we are urging motorists to consider their options."

Speed cameras are being installed to clamp down on ignorant drivers. The Agency said the latest annual figures showed that 22 people died and more than 1,300 were injured because of accidents in areas where roadworks were being undertaken.

The Government this week announced more than £10 million is to be spent to reduce congestion at bottleneck junctions in the North West.

This will include the building of a fourth lane from junction 18 to Birch Services, costing £3.3 million. Work would not be expected to start until 2006 at the earliest.