Millions of road users are to enjoy safer and smoother journeys as National Highways gets set to outline a £128 million package of wear and tear repairs and improvements during the next 12 months.

The announcement comes as the Government continues its drive to level up transport in regions right across the country, investing in vital infrastructure and boosting both connections and local economies.

Key motorway routes like the M56, M6, M60, M62 and M65 as well as major A roads such as the A595 and A56 are all included in the planned ‘renewals’ package which is in addition to day-to-day repairs and maintenance.

Alongside other major works across the region, around £2.5m will be spent renewing the safety barrier in the verge along the M65 between Accrington and Burnley.

The cash is in addition to the hundreds of millions of pounds committed to delivering major infrastructure improvements in construction or in development such as the M56 and M6 motorway upgrades, A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, A585 Windy Harbour bypass, new A590 Cross-a-Moor roundabout and new M55 junction two.

In total, National Highways is spending more than £128.9m up to the end of next March on 116 renewals schemes across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.

National Highways’ regional director for the North West, Alan Shepherd, said: “Hundreds of thousands of drivers rely on National Highways motorways and major A-roads daily for work journeys, home deliveries and the movement of goods and services.

"It’s essential that we keep them in a good condition to ensure safety and reliability.

“This investment – whist not always the eye-catching stuff - means that we can continue our work to deliver the essential maintenance and vital upgrades that will help keep drivers on the move throughout the region.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Caption: Alan Shepherd, National Highways' director for the North West Caption: Alan Shepherd, National Highways' director for the North West

National Highways has already started work on its comprehensive maintenance and improvements programme for the year with the in-year allocation of funds including:

• £18 million for the A533 Expressway bridge replacement over the M56 in Cheshire

• £4.5 million for comprehensive resurfacing along the M57 in Merseyside

• £2.5 million for the M67 St Anne’s bridge replacement in Greater Manchester

• £2.5 million for ongoing work along the M60 Palatine Road viaduct in Greater Manchester

• £2 million M6 River Dane bridge concrete repairs near Holmes Chapel in Cheshire

• £1.5 million for Barton bridge parapet repairs along the M60 near the Trafford Centre

As well as dozens of smaller projects up and down the region to deliver resurfacing, refresh road markings and road studs and renew sections of safety barrier and drainage, there is also money for design or engineering work to extend the life of key sections of the region’s major A roads.

Some £2m has been allocated for the A56 Woodcliffe cutting near Rawtenstall in Lancashire and £6.6m for the A595 at Lower Moresby in Cumbria.

Elsewhere in Cumbria, £2m has been allocated for initial design work ahead of a £200m project to repair bridges along the M6 Lune Gorge – a section of the motorway which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.

Information on maintenance projects, including smaller schemes, across the North West is available from a dedicated webpage.