Repairs underway to tackle M58 ‘bump’
A £1.2 million project to resurface a section of the M58 near Up Holland in West Lancashire will get underway this week.
The Highways Agency is started work on Wednesday (12 November) on a project to tackle a section of the eastbound M58 around junction 5 of the motorway which has developed an undulation or ‘bump’ in recent years.
As part of the project, which is expected to last up to three weeks, the carriageway distortion will be removed and the carriageway will be resurfaced – as well as getting new road markings.
Highways Agency project manager Jakub Malaj said:
This is important work to tackle an increasingly noticeable issue which has arisen in recent years. These repairs will provide a safer and smoother journey for all users of the M58 in this part of Greater Manchester and West Lancashire.
Due to the nature and location of the work we will need to do these improvements during the day and advise drivers to allow extra time for their journeys.
The eastbound M58 around junction 5 will need to close from next week and a contraflow system sending eastbound traffic onto to the westbound carriageway will be installed. Two lanes in each direction will be maintained with the hard shoulder and lane 1 of the westbound carriageway used for westbound traffic and lanes 2 and 3 of the westbound carriageway used to carry eastbound traffic.
Narrowed lanes and a 50 mph speed limit will be in place through the works. The narrowed lane arrangements are being installed tonight and the contraflow system will be installed on Monday night (November 17).
During the installation and removal of the contraflow system next week and at the end of the scheme in December, both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between junction 6 at Orrell Interchange and junction 4 at Skelmersdale will need to close on different nights between 10pm and 5am. Installing the traffic management at the start and end of the schemes will also require slip road closures around junction 5.
The exit and entry slip roads at junction 5 will also be closed for the duration of the road works once the contraflow has been installed next week.
Clearly-signed alternative routes will be in place when closures are in place with cars sent along the A5068 Glenburn Road, B5312 Grimshaw Road and A577 Orrell Road between junctions. As this route is unsuitable for lorries a diversion will operate between the M58 at junction 3 for and M6 at junction 23 at Haydock via the A570 and A580.
All the closures will be timed to avoid clashing with any restrictions in place around major improvements currently taking place at Orrell Interchange where junction 6 of the M58 meets junction 26 of the M6.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.