M60 Traffic Update: Latest News, Delays and Travel Advice

Are you looking for the latest M60 traffic delays and updates? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how to avoid congestion and plan your journey on one of the busiest motorways in the UK. You’ll also find useful information on roadworks, accidents, closures and diversions that may affect your travel time.

Whether you’re commuting to work, visiting friends or family, or going on a road trip, you’ll want to know what’s happening on the M60 before you hit the road. Read on to find out more!

Latest M60 Motorway Congestion Reports

Traffic delays for the M60 motorway in North West England. Latest official travel news from UK Traffic Delays for Greater Manchester.

Live M60 Accident Updates

Avoid M60 roadworks and traffic jams on the UK’s major roads and motorways.

M60 Delays, Clockwise Roadworks

Anti-clockwise M60 Roadworks

M60 Motorway Traffic Flow Map

Live traffic flow information. Avoid travel congestion and plan a smarter route.

Some tips for avoiding traffic on the M60 are:

• Check the latest M60 traffic news and updates before you start your journey. You can use online sources such to get real-time information on roadworks, accidents, closures and diversions that may affect your travel time.
• Plan your route carefully and use alternative roads if possible. You can use online route planners to find the best way to get to your destination. Avoid using the M60 during peak hours or when there are major events in the area.
• Be aware of the most problematic junctions on the M60 and try to avoid them if you can. Some of the worst junctions are Denton Interchange (junction 24), Worsley Interchange (junction 12), Simister Island (junction 18) and Lower Bredbury Interchange (junction 26). These junctions often have slow moving traffic, traffic lights and multiple lanes merging.
• If you are traveling to or from Manchester Airport, be mindful of the M56 closure that may affect your journey. The M56 is closed between junction 5 and junction 6 in both directions until April 2023. You should follow the official diversion routes via the M6, M62 and M60 and allow extra time for your journey.

Busiest Times for The M60

The peak hours on the M60 are usually the weekday rush-hours from 6am to 10am and from 4pm to 8pm. These are the times when most commuters are traveling to and from work and traffic is heaviest. You may also encounter congestion on weekends, especially on Sundays around 11am when many people are returning from their trips. Bank holidays can also be very busy on the M60 as more people travel for leisure.

Traffic delay information supplied by UK Traffic Delays open data. The latest traffic reports, roadworks and travel news for the M60 motorway in North West England.

Traffic Volumes

Traffic volumes on the M60 vary depending on the time of day, day of the week and season of the year. According to the Department for Transport, the average annual daily flow (AADF) of vehicles on the M60 in 2021 was 114,000. This means that on an average day, 114,000 vehicles passed through a certain point on the M60. However, this number does not reflect the actual traffic conditions at different times and locations on the motorway.

The busiest sections of the M60 are those that connect with other major roads or serve large urban areas. For example, junctions 12 to 13 (Worsley Interchange) and junctions 18 to 19 (Simister Island) are among the most congested parts of the M60, as they link with the M62 and the M66 respectively. These junctions often experience slow moving traffic, especially during peak hours. Other busy sections include junctions 24 to 27 (Denton Interchange), which connect with the M67 and the A57, and junctions 1 to 4 (Stockport), which serve a large population centre.

The quietest sections of the M60 are those that are less connected or serve smaller towns. For example, junctions 8 to 10 (Trafford) and junctions 21 to 23 (Ashton-under-Lyne) are among the least congested parts of the M60, as they have fewer exits and entrances and serve less populated areas. These sections often have smoother traffic flow, especially during off-peak hours.

Avoiding The M60

Some good alternative roads to the M60 are:

• The M56, which connects Manchester Airport with Chester and North Wales. You can use the M56 to bypass the busy sections of the M60 around Trafford and Stockport. However, be aware that the M56 is also prone to congestion and roadworks, especially near the airport and junction 7 (Bowdon).
• The M61, which connects Preston with Manchester. You can use the M61 to avoid the M60 around Worsley and Simister Island. However, the M61 can also be busy during peak hours and has some narrow lanes and sharp bends.
• The M62, which connects Liverpool with Leeds. You can use the M62 to avoid the M60 around Eccles and Middleton. However, the M62 can also be affected by traffic incidents and weather conditions, especially on the high-level sections near Rochdale and Huddersfield.
• The A roads, such as the A6, A34, A57 and A580. These roads can provide local access to some of the towns and cities around the M60. However, they can also be slower, narrower and more congested than the motorway, especially during rush hours and school runs.

If you want to use alternative roads to the M60, you should check the latest traffic news and updates before you set off. You should also plan your route carefully and follow the signs for your destination. 

Towns The M60 Passes Through

The M60 is an orbital motorway that passes through most of the metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester, except for Wigan and Bolton. It serves as a bypass for long-distance traffic and a link between the city’s satellite towns and suburbs. Some of the towns that the M60 passes through are:

• Stockport, a large town south of Manchester that is known for its historic buildings, museums and markets. The M60 starts and ends at junction 1 in Stockport, where it connects with the A6 and the A5145.
• Sale, a town west of Manchester that is part of the Trafford borough. The M60 passes through Sale between junctions 6 and 8, where it connects with the A56 and the A6144(M).
• Trafford Park, an industrial estate and business park that is home to many companies and attractions. The M60 passes through Trafford Park between junctions 9 and 10, where it connects with the A5081 and the B5214.
• Eccles, a town west of Manchester that is part of the Salford borough. The M60 passes through Eccles between junctions 11 and 13, where it connects with the A57 and the A575.
• Worsley, a village north-west of Manchester that is part of the Salford borough. The M60 passes through Worsley between junctions 13 and 14, where it connects with the A575 and the A580.
• Prestwich, a town north of Manchester that is part of the Bury borough. The M60 passes through Prestwich between junctions 16 and 17, where it connects with the A56 and the B6181.
• Middleton, a town north-east of Manchester that is part of the Rochdale borough. The M60 passes through Middleton between junctions 18 and 19, where it connects with the M62, the M66 and the A576.
• Ashton-under-Lyne, a town east of Manchester that is part of the Tameside borough. The M60 passes through Ashton-under-Lyne between junctions 22 and 23, where it connects with the A635 and the A6140.
• Denton, a town south-east of Manchester that is part of the Tameside borough. The M60 passes through Denton between junctions 23 and 24, where it connects with the M67 and the A57.

History and Timeline of The Manchester Ring Motorway

The M60 motorway, also known as the Manchester Outer Ring Road or the Manchester Ring Motorway, is a 36-mile circular motorway that passes through most of the metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester. It serves as a bypass for long-distance traffic and a link between the city’s satellite towns and suburbs. It is also one of the busiest and most congested motorways in the UK, with frequent traffic delays and roadworks. But how did the M60 come to be? Here is a brief history of the M60 motorway and its development over time.

The M60 motorway was not built as a single project, but rather as a patchwork of different motorway sections that were connected and consolidated over a 40-year period. The first section of what would become the M60 was opened in 1960 as part of the M62 motorway, which ran from Liverpool to Leeds. This section crossed the north of Manchester and connected with the M66 motorway at Simister Island.

The next section to be built was the Middleton Link, which opened in 1971 as part of the M66 motorway. This section ran from Simister Island to Middleton and connected with the M62 motorway again at Rhodes Interchange. The Middleton Link was later extended to Denton in 1974.

The third section to be built was the Stretford-Eccles Bypass, which opened in 1974 as part of the M63 motorway. This section ran from Carrington to Eccles and connected with the M62 motorway at Worsley Interchange. The Stretford-Eccles Bypass was later extended to Stockport in 1980.

The final section to be built was the Denton-Stockport Link, which opened in 2000 as part of the M66 motorway. This section ran from Denton to Stockport and completed the circle of the Manchester Outer Ring Road.

In 1998, as part of a major renumbering scheme, all these sections were amalgamated into a new route and renamed as the M60 motorway. The existing numbers of the M62, M66 and M63 were retained for other parts of those motorways that were not included in the M60. The renumbering scheme was done in preparation for the opening of the final section of the ring road and to create a unified circuit with one number.

The M60 motorway was officially completed in October 2000, when the Denton-Stockport Link was opened to traffic. The M60 became the UK’s only circular motorway, with no start and no end. It also became part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22 from junctions 12 to 18.

Since its completion, the M60 motorway has been subject to various upgrades and improvements to cope with the increasing traffic volume and demand. In 2006, the section between junctions 5 and 8 was widened from three to four lanes each way and a two-lane collector/distributor road was added on either side of the main carriageways. Some of the junctions were also extensively remodelled. As part of this project, the A6144(M) motorway, which connected to the M60 at junction 8, was downgraded and lost its motorway status.

In 2008, the M60 motorway was proposed as a cordon for congestion charging in Greater Manchester, as part of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund. However, this proposal was rejected in a referendum by the residents of Greater Manchester.

The M60 motorway remains one of the most important and busiest roads in Greater Manchester and in the UK. It provides access to many towns, cities and attractions around Manchester, such as Stockport, Sale, Trafford Park, Eccles, Worsley, Prestwich, Middleton, Ashton-under-Lyne and Denton. It also connects with many other major roads and motorways, such as the M56, M61, M62, M66, M67 and M602.

However, due to its location and function, it also suffers from frequent traffic delays and congestion, especially during peak hours or when there are roadworks, accidents or police incidents.

If you want to avoid traffic on the M60, you should plan your journey carefully and check the latest traffic news and updates before you set off. You should also try to travel during off-peak hours or use alternative routes if possible. By doing so, you can save time, money and stress on your journey.

Our Greater Manchester travel news is as up to date as possible but please do always check with local radio news sources and always allow plenty of time for your journey. Updated every 5 minutes 24 hours a day.

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