Drivers face misery as major motorway closed for three days next week, sending cars on 90 minute diversion

21 June 2024, 13:23 | Updated: 23 June 2024, 12:57

The M6
The M6. Picture: Alamy

By Kit Heren

One of Britain's most important motorways is set to close for a three-day stretch next week, sending drivers on a 90-minute diversion.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

A stretch of the M6, which at 230 miles is the longest motorway in the country, will be closed overnight from Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26.

The section that will close is from Junction 23-26 southbound, affecting the area near Warrington in Cheshire, and northbound from 22-23, around the area of Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside.

The good news is that the closures will only be taking place from 9pm-6am, and the road will remain open outside of those hours.

During the hours when the road is closed, southbound drivers will be diverted onto the M58 westbound, then south via Rainsford and then east via St Helens.

Read More: All flights from two terminals at Manchester Airport cancelled as passengers urged not to travel

Smart motorways are 'anything but smart', says Nick Ferrari

That means what normally should take nine minutes could take as long as an hour and a half, according to Google. And it could get even worse if there is extra congestion from the closure.

Drivers going north will only have to make a short diversion via country lanes and onto the A580, going via the village of Lowton.

The closure is taking place as part of ongoing work to transform the road into a smart motorway - when traffic is monitored so that all lanes are kept open if possible.

Smart motorways are 'anything but smart', says Nick Ferrari

On smart motorways, the hard shoulder is kept closed only in the event of an emergency, to protect the drivers and passengers affected.

But smart motorways have proven controversial, and last year the government cancelled plans to build more of them. Ministers said at the time of the announcement that the M6 was an exception because construction was already so far along.

Transport Secretary discusses 'smart motorways' with Nick Ferrari

The campaign group Smart Motorways Kill estimated there have been over 100 deaths linked to smart motorways since 2016, with its founder Claire Mercer saying "many more" have been injured.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper told LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast that smart motorways remain some of the safest.

"Smart Motorways remain the safest roads of the strategic roads network," Mr Harper told Nick, before adding "the public don't have confidence in them."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Elon Musk carries his son X Æ A-Xii on his shoulders

Elon Musk gave £16m to group promoting Trump’s position on abortion

The Orlando Free Fall drop tower in Icon Park

Parents of boy who died in fall from park ride awarded £240m compensation

Kate is taking part in the Christmas carol service

Lady in red: Kate arrives at Westminster Abbey as beaming royal attends Christmas carol service

Police are putting together the assassin's movements

From cross-country trip to hostel stay: How New York assassin travelled and lay in wait before shooting health boss

boohoo Collective Launch Party.

Boohoo bosses' stalking claims investigated after surveillance tech found near offices

Tory peer Lord Rami Ranger who 'harassed and bullied' a female journalist has been stripped of his CBE following an order from King Charles.

Tory peer who 'harassed and bullied' journalist stripped of CBE after King orders it to be 'cancelled'

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivered his final speech in the House of Lords on Thursday.

Justin Welby apologises for hurting abuse survivors in ‘tone-deaf’ speech that left victims ‘appalled’

TikTok signage

TikTok facing ban in the US after losing court fight over links to China

Putin said during a meeting with Lukashenko that the Oreshnik ballistic missile (not pictured) could be fired from Belarus

Russia 'to fire its hypersonic Oreshnik missiles from Belarus next year', Putin claims in chilling warning

Nine of his victims were students at Lagan College and two were teenage Army cadets.

Former school welfare officer handed three-year sentence for sexually assaulting teen girls

Leanne McDonnell was accused of owning a banned dog (dog pictured is not the animal in question).

Stratford deadly dog attack victim named after being savaged by 'dangerous fighting dog'

Japanese singer and actress Miho Nakayama poses for photo during an interview in Osaka on February 4, 2016. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, 54-year-old Miho Nakayama was found dead at her home in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.

'I have been to hell and back': Heartbreaking final message as Japan’s ‘most beautiful woman’ found dead in bathtub

Calin Georgescu was due to face off against a pro-EU candidate on Sunday

Romania orders rerun of election first round won by far-right pro-Russia candidate after 'Kremlin interference'

Inquests into the deaths of the five people killed in the helicopter crash will begin next month.

Leicester stadium helicopter disaster inquest to start next month - six years after tragedy

Exclusive
The UK is 'heading for a recession', a top recruiter has warned

UK 'heading for recession' amid 'jobs car crash' sparked by national insurance hike, recruitment giant warns

The popular disco music group the Village People on the podium in Hollywood to get a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame

YMCA 'has never been a gay anthem' claims Village People songwriter