Huge M60 junction scheme at Simister Island takes step forward
The scheme is estimated to cost up to ?340million
19:48, 29 Sep 2025
View 2 ImagesMassive improvement works have been agreed for the motorways around Simister Island, where the M60, M62 and M66 converge (Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Plans for a massive motorway junction upgrade on the notoriously busy Simister Island has taken another step forward.
Five lanes of traffic and a new link road will be created at Junction 18 in a bid to ease congestion, following official confirmation by the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this month. Simister Island interchange, which connects the M60[1], M62[2] and M66 motorways, has long been earmarked for a massive change under National Highways proposals.
The scheme - estimated to cost between ?207m and ?340m - aims to reduce congestion, improve journey times and create a safer route through what is one of the North West's busiest motorway junctions.
To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE[3]
The project would see a 'northern loop' built to stop thousands of vehicles using the current traffic light controlled roundabout every day. A five-lane section on both sides of the M60 between Prestwich[4] and Simister (junctions 17 and 18) has been touted as well.
The M66 on the Bury[5] side of the junction would also be widened with new lanes introduced at the interchange and a second lane added from the M60 northbound link.
View 2 ImagesAndy Burnham says the M60 is at 'saturation point'
Now plans for a construction compound at junction 19 of the M62 to support the project are being considered.
National Highways have now submitted a screening report, which is an early-stage assessment to determine if a proposed development is likely to have significant environmental effects.
Official plans for the compound would be filed after National Highways hears back from consultees.
Progress on the overall Simister Island plan stalled last year when the Transport Secretary called for a spending review into all their major road schemes.
Once planning approval has been granted and work gets started, the massive scheme is set to support 20,000 new jobs and 7,000 new homes.
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The project is also anticipated to be a welcome boost for the Atom Valley project in the Rochdale[7] and Bury area.
The new junction would help unlock the new development zone - which is expected to generate more than 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a ?1bn economic boost to Rochdale and Bury.
Article continues belowAfter the project was confirmed on September 9, a spokesperson for National Highways said: "This approval grants us planning permission to move forward with work that will deliver smoother, safer and more reliable journeys on the motorways in and around Greater Manchester.
"We will provide a further update on delivery timescales as part of the next Road Investment Strategy, which will be published in March 2026."