PLANS for more roadworks on the M6 have been postponed following 'feedback' from road users.

Smart motorway roadworks had been due to take place on the M6 between Warrington and Wigan and on the M56 near Manchester Airport this spring.

But Highways England announced they were delaying the plans to 'reduce the impact of roadworks on drivers'.

Work to add extra lanes and 'better' technology will now start after current major motorway upgrades have been completed.

Highways England has also set out plans to improve how smart motorway projects are carried out on the north west’s motorways in the future.

They include changes to the layout of roadworks to reduce the need for overnight diversions and finish schemes sooner.

Temporary speed limits will also be increased to 60mph when it is safe for drivers and road workers and three lanes will be maintained in each direction during the day throughout upgrades.

Mike Bull, Highways England’s smart motorways programme manager for the north west, said: “Hundreds of thousands of people across the North West will benefit from a huge investment on the road network over the next few years and we’re keen to help keep drivers moving while the upgrades take place.

“We’ve listened to what people have been telling us about roadworks and have decided to reschedule two major schemes, benefitting drivers who use our roads to get to work and businesses who deliver goods across the region.

"We’re committed to the upgrades; we are simply changing the timetable for projects on the M56 and M6."

Where the work has been completed so far...

So far roadworks have been completed on the M62 and M60 as well as opening a new link road between the M56 and M6 since 2015.

The company has also completed almost half of a smart motorway upgrade on the M6 in Cheshire opening a fourth lane on both carriageways between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford last month.

The entire 19-mile upgrade between Crewe and Knutsford is on schedule to be finished by the end of March.

What happens next?

Work on a major upgrade of the M62 near Warrington is also due to be completed by spring 2020 increasing capacity by a third.

Highways England bosses say the scheme will benefit commuters who had previously faced average speeds as low as 36mph on their way home from work.

A project to upgrade a four-mile-stretch of the M56 near Manchester Airport will now start by spring 2020 after the M62 scheme has been completed and work will begin as planned this autumn to upgrade another stretch of the M62 between Rochdale and Brighouse in West Yorkshire.

READ > What to do if you break down during motorway roadworks

Other major motorway projects, including a scheme on the M6 between Warrington and Wigan, will be staggered to start between 2020 and 2025.

How will motorway roadworks look in the future?

Northwich Guardian:

Contraflow roadworks layouts, where one lane is moved onto the opposite carriageway with a temporary barrier between traffic, will also be introduced where possible to cut the duration of schemes.

The change to the road layout will allow bigger construction areas to be created at the side of motorways so that more work can be carried out in one shift.

Traffic will also be able to continue to travel in both directions on the motorway when one carriageway is closed for major construction work overnight, reducing the need for diversions.

You can find out more details about the work at highwaysengland.co.uk/nw-smart-motorways.