Progress report
In winter 2019 – based on feedback from our customers and stakeholders of their experiences on our network – we announced changes to our smart motorway programme across the north-west to reduce the impact of concurrent roadworks on our customers.
This means we've agreed to defer the start date of the M6 junction 21a to 26 scheme.
What's next?
We'll announce a new start date for this scheme in due course.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 2014 | Government announces scheme |
| TBC | Works start |
| TBC | Works complete |
Contact us
If you need to contact us about the M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorways scheme, please use the details below:
- Tel: 0300 123 5000
- Email: M6J21a-26SmartMotorway@highwaysengland.co.uk
- Post: M6 J21a-26, Highways England, 2 Colmore Square, Birmingham, B4 6BN.
Why we need this scheme
The M6 forms part of the London to north-west and Scotland strategic corridor, and the wider trans-European route, E05. The M6 between junctions 21a and 26 is a key strategic route carrying around 120,000 vehicles daily between Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Congestion and unreliable journey times are currently experienced at busy periods and traffic is predicted to grow.
The M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorway scheme will relieve congestion and smooth the flow of traffic, improving safety and journey times.
Aims
With this scheme, we aim to:
- reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic to improve travel times, making journeys more reliable
- support the economy and facilitate economic growth within the region. Providing much needed capacity on the motorway will reduce the cost of economic delay to both commuters and business traffic
- continue to deliver a high level of safety performance on the network using smart motorway techniques
- minimise environmental impacts
The scheme in detail
Smart motorways are a technology-driven approach to tackling the most congested parts of the motorway network, improving journey reliability by controlling the flow and speed of traffic. They also support the economy by providing much-needed capacity on the busiest motorways, while maintaining safety for road users and those who work on the roads.
The design features of the scheme include:
- variable mandatory speed limits
- driver information, including lane availability, provided through a mixture of gantries and cantilever signs
- queue detection and automatic signalling system, which provides queue protection and congestion management
- comprehensive low light pan-tilt-zoom CCTV coverage
- refuge areas where drivers can stop in an emergency
Environmental impact
We're undertaking an environmental assessment that covers topics including noise and vibration, water, air quality, ecology and visual impacts. The results will be presented in an Environmental Assessment Report where we'll describe the measures we'll take to minimise potentially significant adverse environmental effects.
Project timeline
Planned roadworks
Roadworks and Events for England
The latest incident information for England's motorway and trunk routes provided by Highways England
Location : The M62 eastbound entry slip at junction J9 .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M62 eastbound exit slip at junction J11 .
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M62 eastbound between junctions J10 and J11 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M6 northbound at junction J21A .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M6 northbound at junction J21A .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J22 and J21A .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M62 eastbound between junctions J11 and J12 .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 6:01 am
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 east.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 14 December 2019 to 06:00 on 15 December 2019.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 5:07 am
Location : The M6 southbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 East.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 14 December 2019 to 05:00 on 15 December 2019.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 15, 2019, 4:37 am
Location : The M6 southbound entry slip at junction J21A from M62 Westbound.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 28 January 2020 to 06:00 on 29 January 2020.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 14, 2019, 6:04 am
Location : The M6 northbound entry slip at junction J21A from M62 westbound.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 28 January 2020 to 06:00 on 29 January 2020.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 14, 2019, 6:04 am
Location : The M62 westbound exit slip at junction J10 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 13 December 2019 to 06:00 on 14 December 2019.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 28 January 2020 to 06:00 on 29 January 2020.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 14, 2019, 2:32 am
Location : The M61 northbound between junctions J1 from A580 and J4 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 21:00 on 13 December 2019 to 05:00 on 14 January 2020.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 9:01 pm
Location : The M62 westbound between junctions J8 and J6 .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Litter Clearance.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 00:00 on 10 March 2020.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 5:39 pm
Location : The M62 eastbound between junctions J9 and J12 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 21:00 on 9 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 5:05 pm
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J21A and J21 .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 5:05 pm
Location : The M6 northbound entry slip at junction J21A from M62 westbound.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M62 westbound entry slip at junction J11 .
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M62 westbound exit slip at junction J11 .
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M62 westbound between junctions J12 and J10 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 23:00 on 16 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M6 southbound entry slip at junction J21A from M62 Westbound.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M62 westbound between junctions J12 and J10 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M62 westbound exit slip at junction J10 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 23:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:27 pm
Location : The M58 eastbound between junctions J4 and J5 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 17 December 2019 to 07:00 on 19 December 2019.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:23 pm
Location : The M58 eastbound entry slip at junction J5 .
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 23:30 on 18 December 2019 to 07:00 on 19 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:23 pm
Location : The M58 eastbound entry slip at junction J4 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 23:30 on 18 December 2019 to 07:00 on 19 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:23 pm
Location : The M58 eastbound between junctions J4 and J5 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Schedule : From 23:30 on 18 December 2019 to 07:00 on 19 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 1:23 pm
Location : The M61 northbound between junctions J2 from A580 and J4 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 12:44 pm
Location : The M6 southbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 East.
Lane Closures : Lane one is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 March 2020.
Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 7:38 am
Location : The M62 eastbound between junctions J6 and J8 .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Litter Clearance.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 00:00 on 10 March 2020.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 7:31 am
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 east.
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 21:00 on 9 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 4:14 am
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J22 and J21A .
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 21:00 on 9 December 2019 to 06:00 on 20 December 2019.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 4:14 am
Location : The M6 northbound at junction J21A .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 12:30 am
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J21 and J21A .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 12:30 am
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 west.
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 21:00 and 06:00 from 16 December 2019 to 19 December 2019.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 19 December 2019 to 05:00 on 20 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 13, 2019, 12:30 am
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J21 and J21A .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 20 December 2019.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 11:48 pm
Location : The M58 westbound between junctions J6 and J5 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:00 from 15 December 2019 to 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 11:10 pm
Location : The M58 westbound entry slip at junction J4 .
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 11:10 pm
Location : The M58 westbound exit slip at junction J4 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 11:10 pm
Location : The M58 westbound between junctions J6 and J4 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 15 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:57 pm
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J27 and J25 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Road repairs are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 22:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 19 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be two of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:49 pm
Location : The M6 southbound entry slip at junction J26 .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Road repairs are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 22:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 19 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:49 pm
Location : The M61 southbound between junctions J6 and J5 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be two of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:22 pm
Location : The M61 southbound exit slip at junction J6 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:00 from 16 December 2019 to 18 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:22 pm
Location : The M61 southbound between junctions J8 and J5 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:16 pm
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J27 and J21 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 14:52 on 21 January 2019 to 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J27 and J28 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be three of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J28 and J27 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 20:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be three of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J21 and J21A .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J21A and J27 .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J21 and J27 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : from 14:52 on 21 January 2019 to 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 southbound between junctions J27 and J21A .
Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 December 2021.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 15 December 2019 to 05:00 on 16 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M62 westbound between junctions J12 and J11 .
Lane Closures : Lane three is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 March 2020.
Lanes Closed : There is one of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 east.
Lane Closures : Lane one is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 31 March 2020.
Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound entry slip at junction J21 .
Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 15 December 2019 to 05:00 on 16 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 southbound exit slip at junction J21A to M62 West.
Lane Closures : Lane two is closed.
Reason : Roadworks.
Status : Currently Active.
Period : expect disruption until 23:59 on 31 March 2020.
Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M57 northbound between junctions J2 and J4 .
Lane Closures : Lanes 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadside drains works are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be two of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M62 westbound between junctions J7 and J6 .
Lane Closures : Lane three will be closed.
Reason : Roadside drains works are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound between junctions J20 and J21A .
Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2 and 3 will be closed.
Reason : Roadworks are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 15 December 2019 to 05:00 on 16 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be three of four lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M62 eastbound between junctions J6 and J7 .
Lane Closures : Lane three will be closed.
Reason : Roadside drains works are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 16 December 2019 to 05:00 on 17 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of three lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M57 northbound entry slip at junction J3 .
Lane Closures : Lane two will be closed.
Reason : Roadside drains works are planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 17 December 2019 to 05:00 on 18 December 2019.
Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
Location : The M6 northbound exit slip at junction J21 .
Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned.
Status : Pending.
Schedule : From 21:00 on 15 December 2019 to 05:00 on 16 December 2019.
Posted: December 12, 2019, 8:10 pm
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