Safe Speed Forums

Major works planned for M61
By Deborah Linton

SLIPROADS at three of the M61's major junctions are to be improved as part of a £430,000 scheme to reduce accidents and conjestion..

Bolton council has approved a programme of works for junction four at Kearsley, junction five near Hunger Hill and Westhoughton, and junction six, near Middlebrook.

Executive member for the environment, Cllr John Byrne, said: "The idea is to smooth traffic through the junctions and improve safety. We've worked with the Highways Agency to compose the plans, which are part of the council's on-going review of road traffic measures."

Junctions five and six are the highest-ranked injury accident blackspots in the borough, according to Bolton Council figures. There have been a total of 69 casualties at the two sites over the past three years, resulting from 55 accidents. Many involved rear end collisions due to extensive queueing.

Major work is to be carried out at junction five, where a free-flowing slip road will be introduced, allowing traffic a direct flow from the northbound carriageway of the M61, turning left on to Snydale Way (A58), towards Westhoughton. Motorists currently have to give-way when they exit the motorway, at the A58 roundabout, causing lengthy tailbacks during rush hour. The roundabout carriageway will be widened to accommodate the work, which will be carried-out at off-peak times.

Anti-skid surfacing and new road markings will be introduced at all three motorway junctions. The improvements will take place on both motorway exit slip roads at junction four, as well as the Wintergate Lane approaches, and on both exit roads at junction six, as well as the De Havilland Way approaches.

The scheme is costing £430,000 to implement across the three sites, with £240,000 coming from the Highways Agency and £50,000 from developers. The additional £140,000 will come from the council's Local Safety Scheme Capital Programme for 2007/08.