The first phase of a £208 million smart motorway scheme in Manchester is set to open this autumn.

The project is Highways England's most complex smart motorway project and stretches between junction 8 of the M60 near Sale and junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale

The phased opening over the next few months will see the removal of the temporary narrow lanes on the M62 starting in October, and between junctions 8 and 10 on the M60 later in the autumn.

New technology will then be tested to ensure the 100 traffic sensors which have been installed along the 17-mile route are working effectively, before the new electronic variable speed limit signs are switched on from junctions 8 to 10 on the M60 and junctions 18 to 20 on the M62 by the end of the year. Extra lanes on the M62 are also due to open in time for the Christmas getaway.

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Other issues such as needing to relocate unrecorded utility pipes and carrying out additional maintenance work has meant that part of the scheme will need to continue into 2018.

The temporary narrow lanes are due to be removed between junctions 15 and 18 on the M60 in early 2018, and from the final section of roadworks – on a five-mile stretch of the M60 between junctions 10 and 15 – in spring 2018.

The new variable speed limit signs are due to be switched on between junctions 10 and 18 by summer 2018.

Jon Stokes, Senior Project Manager at Highways England, said: "We will be able to begin a phased opening of the new smart motorway scheme this autumn – benefiting the 180,000 drivers who use the route every day.

"When the smart motorway is complete, drivers will be able to travel in an extra lane on the M62 and variable speed limits will keep traffic moving at a steady speed – tackling the stop/start conditions and tailbacks caused by sudden braking.

"Nearly 600 people are currently working to complete the project and we will open each section along the route as soon as possible."

(LM)