Concern as weeks of overnight closures planned on the M6

With the aim of reducing congestion and smoothing the flow of traffic, work to upgrade part of the M6 into a smart motorway began in early 2021, with live images and technology used to monitor the flow of traffic.

However, although the hard shoulder has been converted into an extra lane of traffic, between junction 21a at Croft and junction 26 in Orrell, the government has since scrapped new smart motorways plans due to a lack of public confidence in the project.

Existing smart motorways will remain and benefit from further safety improvements, the government has said, with the delayed M6 project now projected to be completed in spring 2025 - with costs ballooning £259m to £285m

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All four lanes of traffic are used in smart motorways (Image: Highways England)
With all four lanes of the M6 now resurfaced between junction 21a and junction 25, as well as lanes one and four from junction 25 to 26, work to install improved signage is also "nearing completion".

Work is also scheduled to install permanent road markings along the ten-mile stretch of motorway, as well as large advance direction signs, digital message boards, and message indicators, intended to provide drivers with vital information and enable smoother journeys.

Temporary 50mph speed limits are still in place along the stretch of motorway and further overnight closures (from 9pm to 6am) are planned in the coming weeks.

The planned works have raised concerns as previous closures have resulted in large traffic queues and a build up of HGVS along routes used as diversions, such as the A49 and High Street in Newton-le-Willows.

New CCTV cameras will provide live images of the motorway 24 hours a day at Highways England’s regional operations centre in Newton-le-Willows (Image: Highways England)

Road closures:

• M6 southbound between junction 22 and 21a will be closed on Tuesday, August 20 and Wednesday, August 28.
• M6 southbound between junction 23 and 22 will be closed on Thursday, August 29 and Wednesday, September 4.
• M6 southbound between junction 23 and 26 will be closed on Sunday, September 1 and Thursday, September 5
• M6 northbound between junction 22 and 21a will be closed on Saturday, August 31 and Saturday, September 7
• M6 northbound between junction 22 and 23 will be closed on Friday, August 30 and Friday, September 6
• M6 northbound between junction 23 and 26 will be closed on Tuesday, August 27, Monday, September 2, and Tuesday, September 3