MAJOR repairs are set to take place on one of the busiest routes into East Lancashire, causing diversions for motorists.

The Highways Agency has announced a series of overnight closures over the next two months in order to carry out improvements on the northbound carriageway of the M66, between Bury and Rossendale, at a cost of £250,000.

And a separate project will see £101,000 spent on resurfacing work at the A56 roundabout in Edenfield.

The M66 work, between the beginning of the motorway in Edenfield and junction two at Bury town centre, will start on June 16 and last until July 31.

Remedial measures to tackle wear and tear, including resurfacing and the renewal of road markings and studs, will take place nightly between 10pm and 5am.

Jakub Malaj, the Highways Agency’s project sponsor, said traffic would be diverted along the parallel A56 road through Edenfield, Shuttleworth and Ramsbottom.

Mr Malaj said: “This is routine work to tackle wear and tear along a section of the M66 where customers have told us they would appreciate a programme of repairs to provide smoother journeys.”

The total cost of the work on the motorway, which is used by thousands of communters to and from East Lancashire every day, will be around £256,000.

Work on the Edenfield roundabout, where the M66 and the A56 meet the A676, will take place between late July and the end of August.

The Highways Agency said some overnight closures would be required, but that clearly-signed diversions would be in place.

Repairs there also include resurfacing and the renewal of road markings and studs.