- Junction 21-26a upgrade between Warrington and Wigan has moved to operation at 70mph, improving journey times, safety and reliability for motorists.
Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has reached the final milestone on its upgrade of the M6 between junctions 21a and 26, allowing National Highways to fully open the scheme at the national speed limit of 70mph.
In October, National Highways opened an extra lane for drivers on both the northbound and southbound carriageways along all ten miles of the M6 junction 21a to junction 26 between Warrington and Wigan.
This morning (Thursday), National Highways lifted the temporary maximum speed limit of 50mph that had been in place since October, following the completion of work to calibrate stopped vehicle detection technology. This safety enhancement uses radar technology to alert National Highways’ control centre operators who can then close lanes with a red X signal, display modified speed limits and deploy traffic officers.
Costain, as part of the SMP Alliance, has been the on-site partner for the £260m upgrade, leading the delivery of improvements on the busy route that is increasing mobility across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire, and supporting economic growth in the North West.
The introduction of the national speed limit marks the final milestone on the scheme. The two additional lanes, one in each direction, are providing extra capacity, reducing congestion, improving travel times and making journeys more reliable for the estimated 120,000 vehicles that use the route each day.
The scheme has had a strong emphasis on delivering social value benefits for the region, including providing a self-sufficient water system for a community and educational garden in Eccles, near Salford.
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Tom Mitchener
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