Simister Island

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Simister Island is a busy motorway interchange at junction 18 of the M60 in Greater Manchester, England. It is about 8 miles north of Manchester city centre and near the village of Simister. The interchange connects three major roads: the M60 orbital, the M62 trans‑Pennine route, and the M66. It handles around 90,000 vehicles a day, making it one of the busiest junctions in North West England. It links Greater Manchester with Lancashire, Yorkshire, and beyond.

History and layout
Simister Island was built in 1970–71 as part of the M62 development and opened in 1971 as a two‑level roundabout planned for future connections to the Bury Easterly Bypass (the M66). The original design had limited free‑flow links.

Upgrades over the years
- In 1999, the interchange was upgraded with free‑flow slip roads for all left turns, a wider four‑lane circulatory carriageway, and colour‑coded spiral markings to help drivers navigate the junction.
- By the late 2010s, traffic had grown far beyond the original capacity, causing frequent congestion and safety concerns.

Recent plans and approval
The UK government’s Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2), announced in 2020, set out a plan to upgrade the junction. A Development Consent Order (DCO) was applied for in April 2024 and approved on 9 September 2025 after environmental assessments and consultations.

What the upgrade will include
- A Northern Loop: a new free‑flow link from the M60 eastbound to the M60 southbound, bypassing the current roundabout. This includes the Pike Fold Viaduct.
- A new two‑lane connection from the M60 northbound to the M60 westbound.
- Widening the M60 between junctions 17 and 18 to five lanes in each direction, with the hard shoulder becoming a permanent lane.
- Realigning the M66 southbound through the interchange to four lanes.
- Additional improvements: better signs, drainage, and measures to reduce noise and air pollution.

Why this is happening
The upgrade aims to ease crowding, improve journey times, and support development in the Atom Valley area. It is expected to help unlock growth, potentially supporting up to 20,000 jobs, about 7,000 homes, and around £1 billion for the regional economy.

Timeline and costs
- Construction is planned to start after March 2026 and is expected to take about two years, finishing around 2028.
- The project is estimated to cost between £207 million and £340 million.

What people think
Many welcome the upgrade for the potential to reduce congestion and boost local growth. Others are concerned about the environmental impact, noise and air quality, and whether the changes will fully solve traffic problems. Some residents worry that congestion could shift onto local roads. There are also questions about value for money and whether more investment in public transport might be a better option.