M60 Junction 8 to M62 Junction 20 Smart Motorway (Manchester Smart Motorway)
Greater Manchester, UK · 2014–2018 (fully operational August 2018) · £208 million (for the entire M60 J8 to M62 J20 scheme)
The judgement call
Account action unavailableThis was Greater Manchester's first smart motorway, aimed at reducing congestion and improving journey times. - The project demonstrated resilience in delivery despite significant challenges, including contractor insolvency. - It involved the conversion of the hard shoulder to a permanent running lane, increasing capacity without physical widening. - The scheme included the installation of advanced technology for variable speed limits and incident detection.
Key engineering challenges
Upgrading a highly congested section of the M60 and M62, used by over 180,000 vehicles per day. - Integrating new smart motorway technology across a complex network of junctions. - Managing traffic flow and ensuring safety during construction on a continuously busy orbital motorway. - Overcoming challenges posed by the liquidation of one of the lead contractors (Carillion) during the project.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- National Highways (formerly Highways England)
- Lead contractor
- Balfour Beatty and Carillion (JV, though Carillion went into liquidation during the project, with Balfour Beatty taking over fully)
- Lead designers
- N/A (design was integrated into the project delivery)
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- 17 miles (27 km) of smart motorway; conversion of hard shoulder to a permanent running lane; installation of new technology, gantries, and emergency areas.
- Disciplines
- civil; intelligent transport systems; electrical; environmental
- Standards & frameworks
- DMRB; CDM Regulations; Smart Motorway All-Lane Running standards
Sources: GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/greater-manchesters-first-smart-motorway-is-fully-operational) - National Highways (https://nationalhighways.co.uk/media/5iljjzqs/m60-junction-8-to-m62-junction-20-one-year-post-opening-project-evaluation.pdf) - Manchester Evening News (https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/smart-motorway-open-m60-m62-14980947)