M62 to Close for Bridge Replacement in September

The M62, a crucial trans-Pennine route, will face significant closures for two weekends in September as Network Rail replaces the almost 60-year-old Castleton bridge, which carries the railway line over the motorway between Manchester and Rochdale. The closures will occur from 9pm on Friday, September 6, to 6am on Monday, September 9, and again from 9pm on Friday, September 20, to 6am on Monday, September 23. National Highways is advising drivers to avoid this section of the M62 during these weekends and to follow official diversions, which are designed to maintain traffic flow. This marks the first extensive planned closure of the M62 in recent memory, impacting around 120,000 vehicles daily and affecting travel between major cities including Liverpool, Hull, Manchester, and Leeds. Network Rail emphasizes the necessity of this work for maintaining critical rail infrastructure, and both organizations are coordinating efforts to minimize disruption while maximizing routine maintenance opportunities. Drivers should plan ahead and consider alternative routes to mitigate travel delays during the closures.