Greater Manchester Motorway Closures: M6, M60 and M62 2026

Key Points

• There will be road closures on the motorways M6, M60, and M62 in Greater Manchester.
• These road closures will occur from Monday until Thursday.
• Drivers may encounter delays, diversions, and restricted access near the sections being closed.
• Drivers have been advised to look at the traffic information before driving.
• The road closures are part of the planned roadworks and maintenance operations.
• More information about the timings, location, and diversions can be obtained from traffic information.
• These roadworks may have an impact on travel from Greater Manchester and its neighboring places.
• Drive through these motorways and plan for some extra time if necessary.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 21, 2026 — A number of motorway closures are scheduled across the region from Monday to Thursday, including works affecting the M6, M60 and M62.

The newspaper said it had compiled a full list of roads due to close during the week. The planned restrictions are expected to affect motorists travelling through Greater Manchester and neighbouring areas, with the impact depending on the location, timing and scale of each closure.

The information is particularly relevant to commuters, freight operators, bus users and drivers making longer journeys across the North West. Motorways around Greater Manchester carry large volumes of traffic every day, meaning even overnight closures or restrictions can lead to delays on nearby roads.

Drivers should check the specific arrangements for their route before travelling. Information can change because of weather, construction requirements, emergency works or operational decisions made by highway authorities and contractors.

Which motorways are included in the closure plans?

The reported closure programme includes sections of the M6, M60 and M62.

The M6 is one of the principal north-south routes in the region and is widely used by commuters, commercial vehicles and long-distance traffic. Restrictions on the motorway can affect journeys connecting Greater Manchester with Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Staffordshire and other parts of the country.

The M60 forms the orbital motorway around Manchester. It connects several major routes and provides access to towns and cities across Greater Manchester. A closure on one part of the M60 can therefore affect traffic entering or leaving the motorway network at several junctions.

The M62 is an important east-west route linking Greater Manchester with West Yorkshire, Merseyside and other areas. Closures on the M62 may affect drivers travelling towards Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and surrounding communities.

The Manchester Evening News article identified these motorways as part of the week’s planned closure schedule. However, the available source information does not provide enough verified detail to reproduce every junction, lane, carriageway or closure time accurately. Drivers should refer to the full original report and current official traffic notices for route-specific information.

When will the closures take place?

The reported closures are planned from Monday to Thursday.

The schedule means that disruption may occur on more than one night or at different times during the week. Motorway maintenance is often arranged outside the busiest daytime travel periods, but overnight closures can still affect people travelling late at night, working shifts or making early-morning journeys.

The timing of individual restrictions may differ between roads. Some works may require a complete motorway closure, while others may involve lane closures, slip-road restrictions or reduced speed limits.

Drivers should not assume that a road will remain open simply because it was available during an earlier journey. A planned closure can begin later in the evening and continue into the following morning.

How could the closures affect Greater Manchester traffic?

The main effect is likely to be additional pressure on alternative routes. When a motorway is closed, vehicles may be diverted on to local roads, major A-roads or nearby motorways. This can increase journey times and congestion around motorway junctions.

The effect may be more pronounced where two or more major routes are affected during the same period. Drivers who normally use the M6, M60 or M62 may need to alter their route, particularly if their journey depends on a specific junction or interchange.

Local roads could also experience heavier traffic while closures are in place. This may affect residential areas, town-centre approaches and roads near motorway access points. Drivers should follow signed diversions rather than relying solely on familiar routes, because some alternative roads may be unsuitable for certain vehicles.

Heavy goods vehicle operators should pay particular attention to restrictions. Large vehicles may require more time to follow a diversion and may be affected by weight, height or width limitations on alternative roads.

What should motorists do before travelling?

Motorists planning to use the affected motorway network should take several practical steps before setting off.

• Check the latest traffic information close to the time of departure.
• Confirm whether the closure affects the direction and junction used for the journey.
• Allow extra time, even if travelling outside peak hours.
• Follow official diversion signs and temporary traffic management.
• Avoid stopping on unsuitable roads while attempting to find an alternative route.
• Check fuel or charging levels before beginning a diverted journey.
• Use a navigation app alongside official signs, rather than treating it as the only source of information.
• Drivers of larger vehicles should check whether the suggested alternative route is suitable.

Travel information can change quickly. A closure may be postponed, extended or modified if work cannot be completed as planned. Emergency incidents can also create additional restrictions unrelated to the scheduled roadworks.

Why are motorway closures scheduled at night?

Motorway closures are commonly arranged during evenings or overnight periods to reduce disruption to the largest number of road users. Night-time working can allow contractors to carry out resurfacing, inspections, repairs, barrier work, drainage activity, bridge maintenance and other tasks when traffic levels are lower.

However, lower traffic volumes do not mean there will be no impact. People travelling for work, airport journeys, deliveries and overnight services may still be affected. Delays can also continue after a closure ends if traffic has built up on the diversion route.

The timing of the Greater Manchester closures should therefore be checked for each motorway and journey. A general Monday-to-Thursday schedule does not establish the exact hours for every restriction.

What information has been attributed to the Manchester Evening News?

The Manchester Evening News published the report under the headline “All of the Greater Manchester motorway closures this week, including the M6, M60 and M62”. The article stated that it had compiled a full list of roads scheduled to close from Monday to Thursday.

The supplied source does not identify the individual journalist in the material available here. For that reason, no reporter’s name has been added or attributed without verification. The closure details in this article are attributed to the Manchester Evening News, while route-specific information should be checked against the original report and official traffic updates.

No additional media reports were supplied or successfully retrieved for comparison. It is therefore not possible to claim that this article includes statements from other news organisations or to add unverified details about exact junctions, times or diversion routes.

What should commuters and businesses expect?

Commuters may experience longer journeys if their usual route is closed or if surrounding roads become congested. People travelling at the beginning or end of a shift should check the situation before leaving, particularly if they rely on one motorway interchange.

Businesses may need to review delivery schedules and allow additional time for drivers. Delays can affect arrival windows, distribution routes and vehicle operating hours. Employers with staff travelling across Greater Manchester may also need to make workers aware of the planned restrictions.

Public transport services using roads near motorway junctions could face indirect delays if traffic diverts on to local roads. Passengers should check directly with their operator if their service depends on roads close to the affected motorways.

Background: why are these roads important?

The M6, M60 and M62 are among the most significant motorway routes serving Greater Manchester and the wider North West.

The M6 provides a major north-south connection, while the M62 links the Manchester area with destinations to the east and west. The M60 acts as a key orbital route around the city and connects with several other motorways and principal roads.

Because these roads carry commuter, commercial and long-distance traffic, planned closures are normally announced in advance so that motorists can prepare. Maintenance and construction works are necessary to keep the network safe and operational, but they can temporarily reduce capacity and place pressure on surrounding roads.

The current development concerns a week of planned closures from Monday to Thursday. The Manchester Evening News identified the M6, M60 and M62 among the affected motorways, but the exact arrangements for each section should be confirmed through the original report and live traffic sources.

Prediction: how could the closures affect motorists?

The closures are likely to produce localised delays, particularly near affected junctions and on signed diversion routes. The level of disruption will depend on the closure times, whether full carriageways or only lanes are restricted, the number of vehicles using alternative roads and whether additional incidents occur.

Regular commuters may be able to reduce the impact by travelling at a different time or choosing an approved alternative route. Freight operators and long-distance drivers may face greater difficulty because their vehicles require suitable roads and may not be able to use every local diversion.

The most reliable expectation is that journey conditions will vary throughout the week. Drivers should check updates before each journey rather than relying on one forecast, allow extra time and follow official instructions while the motorway closures are in place.