The nightmare of the M60 and why ‘major’ investment is needed

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

The M60 needs ‘major investment’, Andy Burnham has said. 

Caller Darren told BBC Radio Manchester’s ‘In the Hotseat’ the motorway is ‘more of a car park than a road’. 

Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham agreed, saying the Simister Island and the Trafford Park sections are a nightmare.

“It just does not work,” he told host Mike Sweeney. 

“The capacity is simply not there, the road layout is not right.

"I have said to Highways England that we need a plan for investment along the M60.”

Mr Burnham said traffic coming onto the ringroad causes delays on feeder roads, making things worse.

The Mancunian Way and Regent Road regularly see drivers stuck bumper to bumper. 

Safety work on Mancunian Way at the end of October led to long delays.

Regent Road saw a £15m investment to improve traffic flow of traffic and reduce air pollution back in 2019. It remains a pinch point.  

Mr Burnham said Highways England needs to push the government for more cash to improve the M60.

He said queues at junctions are dangerous, with other cars flying past at high speed.

Work to install sections of ‘smart motorway’, Mr Burnham claimed, have caused long delays but have done little to solve the problem.

There are no plans for imminent work on the M60, listeners were told.

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