DRIVERS planning to use the M62 this weekend are being warned of disruption as a result of another closure.

The motorway network around Rochdale, Oldham and north Manchester will be fully closed from 9pm this evening, Friday, until 6am on Monday.

This is to allow Network Rail to complete its important bridge replacement work, with motorists urged to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys.

The motorway was closed for a weekend earlier this month as Network Rail demolished Castleton bridge, between junctions 19 and 20 at Rochdale.

As expected, drivers experienced congestion along both the motorway network and diversion routes.

Now National Highways is urging drivers planning local or cross-Pennine trips over the weekend to delay journeys, look for alternative routes well away from the area or check for congestion before setting out.

Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner, said: “During the first weekend closure, we had significant if unsurprising congestion at times on the approaches to the closure, along both the clockwise M60 and westbound M62, as well as the diversion routes.

“This weekend, queues are likely again along the M60, M62 and diversion routes, especially during the day.

“We strongly urge people planning to travel to delay their journeys or use alternative routes well away from this part of the motorway network.

“At the very least, people should be checking for congestion or incidents before setting out and leaving extra time for journeys.”

Staff at National Highways’ regional operations centre in Newton-le-Willows will again be setting advance and real-time messages on electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers ahead of and during the weekend closure.

This weekend’s closure plan is a repeat of the first one – with the eastbound M62 closed from junction 18 at Simister Island to junction 20 at Rochdale.

The westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 and junction 19 at Heywood.

The diversion for eastbound drivers will use the strategic road network, with drivers from the M66 or clockwise M60 travelling to junction 21 of the M60 at Chadderton, where they should then use the northbound A663 (Broadway) and northbound A627M to join the M62 at junction 20.

Drivers diverted off the westbound M62 at junction 20 should join the southbound A627(M) and then use the westbound A664 and northbound A6046 to re-join the M62 at junction 19.

This second weekend closure is taking place after Network Rail successfully removed the old bridge during a weekend closure of the M62 at the beginning of the month.

Some overnight lane closures along the M62 may be required after Monday to help Network Rail complete the project, but these are unlikely to have a significant impact on motorway journeys.