By Chris Gee
The government has requested more information about flood risks and an underground water pipeline ahead of a decision on major motorway upgrades to the M60 , M62 and M66. The Ministry of Transport is set to make a decision on a scheme which would transform the network around the notoriously congested Simister Island. The project would see a 鈥榥orthern loop鈥 built to create a new free flowing traffic section without the need for thousands of vehicles a day to use the current traffic light controlled roundabout. A five lane section of the M60 on both sides between Prestwich and Simister (junctions 17 and 18) would be introduced. The M66 on the Bury side of the junction would be widened with new lanes introduced at the interchange and a second lane would be added from the M60 northbound to westbound anti-clockwise free flow link. The applicant for the project is National Highways and the infrastructure project has been through a lengthy period of 鈥榩ublic examination鈥 by the Planning Inspectorate, which ended on March 12. The inspectorate said their recommendation was submitted to the secretary of state earlier this month, ahead of a final decision. Today the ministry has contacted National Highways requesting more information. The letter, dated June 27, asks for specific information in light of the Environment Agency publishing new data in March which included updated flood zones and river flood risk extents. The letter said: 鈥淭he Secretary of State notes that this data was published following the close of the examination and has not been considered. 鈥淭he Secretary of State requests an update from the applicant on any implications the new data would have on the proposed development.鈥 The letter also asks for further details on funding to support some improvements to the Haweswater underpass, close to the development. Simister Island interchange is one of the busiest motorway junctions in the north-west, used by around 90,000 vehicles a day. National Highways said the junction struggles with much higher volumes of traffic above what it was designed for, and as a result suffers from congestion and poor journey time reliability. Early estimates of project costs are between 拢207m and 拢340m and if the go ahead is given it would take around two years to build. During the public examination, many submissions were received opposing the plans, several of which cited environmental concerns. National Highways summarised their reasoning behind the proposals in planning documents saying the scheme was 鈥榞reat news for the local and regional economy鈥. They added: 鈥淭he scheme will improve J18 of the M60 and facilitate the movement of traffic along the M60, M62 and M66 in the scheme area, contributing to more reliable and safer journeys through the junction.鈥