A PROJECT aimed at reducing congestion on the Simister Island interchange has been announced by the Government.

The scheme is one of nine new initiatives costing £800M across the North West as part of a Government drive to improve roads, which is expected to create 600 construction jobs.

Junction 18 of the M60 - known as Simister Island and links the M62 and M66 - has become a frequent bottleneck during morning and evening rush-hours, causing queues and crawling traffic not only the motorway but on surrounding roads such as Bury New Road, particularly around junction 17 at Whitefield.

Fuller details of the Simister Island scheme have not yet been revealed, but a statement from the Department for Transport said it would introduce “more free-flowing movements to substantially improve one of the busiest junctions in the North West “.

In addition, the introduction of the smart motorway currently being built on a 17-mile stretch of the motorway, from junction 8 of the M60 at Sale to junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale, will be extended from Rochdale to Brighouse.

Once completed, the extension will mean that a smart motorway will be in operation linking Manchester and Leeds.

The announcement is part of the Government’s £15 billion plan to improve and extend England’s road network.

Councillor David Jones, who represents Unsworth, said he welcomed the announcement.

He said: “Although the project is at an early stage, with the information we have received it does seem like an improvement for local communities, and people passing through to other areas of Greater Manchester.

“The Island causes a lot of traffic problems for motorists, so hopefully this in conjunction with the smart motorway scheme will improve the issue.”

Bury North MP David Nuttall said: “This will transform the Trans-Pennine route and builds on investment which started in 2010 and is funding the expansion of smart motorway miles in the Manchester area and the widening of the M56.

“Once completed these improvements will make life easier for businesses and motorists but I recognise that whilst the roadworks are in progress the problems of delays will get worse before they get better.”

The Department for Transport has also promised to conduct a study on how best to improve road links to the north and west of Manchester, to make sure the M60 does not become a “barrier” to the growth of the area.

Chancellor George Osborne said: “I promised when I was in the North West that we would address this area’s economic needs for the future.

“Our long-term economic plan means we can invest an £800 million into the North West’s infrastructure to improve, repair and expand our roads. This is all about investing in the northern powerhouse we are seeking to build.”