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-gated at launchThis 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)