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Roadworks and lane closures

M61

3 booked

Nothing is confirmed closed on the M61 right now. National Highways has 3 closures booked in the next 24 hours, the first due from 10pm, so it may already be in place. Its slowest recurring hour is Tue 07:00, averaging 7 mph.

Photo: Ian S, Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized

Closed right now

Closure data updated 34 minutes ago2026-10-22T00:38:06.184Z

None confirmed in force

Our last check saw nothing set up on the M61, but closures are booked for tonight below. This covers planned closures, not accidents.

Booked for today and tonight

Next 24 hours, UK time

UK time. Dark bar: the road is fully closed, so expect a diversion. Lighter bar: lanes or a slip road closed, the road stays open.

M61 Southbound lane 1 closure (MP 3/3 to 0/8)

Due now

link road from A666 for M60 J15 within M61 J2

What: 1 lane closed
Why: Maintenance work
When: 10pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place

M61 southbound lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 10/3 to 8/5)

Booked

M61 southbound within J4

What: 2 lanes closed
Why: Maintenance work
When: 8pm tonight to 7am tomorrow (UK time)

M61 Southbound to M60 Clockwise link road lane 2 closure

Booked

M61 southbound between J2 and J1

What: Link road closed
Why: Maintenance work
When: 10pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

These are closures National Highways has scheduled, mostly overnight. Plans can change on the night, and a closure only shows above as in force once our last check has seen it set up, so one that has passed its start time may already be in place.

When the M61 is slowest

1 May 2026 to 15 June 2026

Tue 07:007mph

89% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,695 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Wed 07:009mph

85% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,735 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Thu 07:0011mph

83% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,708 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Tue 08:0017mph

73% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,680 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Thu 08:0022mph

66% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,609 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Wed 08:0022mph

66% slower than normal on this stretch · southbound · about 1,658 vehicles an hour

Measured about 400 m from junction 2, Worsley Braided Interchange, in Bolton

Each hour is compared with that sensor’s own free-flow speed rather than the speed limit, because some sensors sit on bends and slip roads that never reach 70 mph. Quiet hours carrying under 600 vehicles are left out, so overnight roadworks are not mistaken for congestion.

Which direction is worse

Averaged along the whole road

NorthboundWorst at Fri 13:0030 mph

SouthboundWorst at Tue 07:0049 mph

Rush hour is rarely symmetrical. The commute in and the commute out peak at different times, and rarely as badly as each other. These speeds are averaged across every sensor facing that way, so they read higher than the worst-point figures above: most of the road is moving even when one junction is not.

Every hour of the week

Darker means slower

Average speed on the M61 for each hour of the week, shaded by how far below normal it runs.
Day	00	1	2	3	4	5	06	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Mon	Mon 00:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 01:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 02:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Mon 03:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Mon 04:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Mon 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Mon 06:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Mon 07:00, 53 mph, 19% below normal	Mon 08:00, 55 mph, 17% below normal	Mon 09:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Mon 10:00, 60 mph, 10% below normal	Mon 11:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Mon 12:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Mon 13:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Mon 14:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Mon 15:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Mon 16:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Mon 17:00, 63 mph, 5% below normal	Mon 18:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal	Mon 19:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Mon 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Mon 21:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal	Mon 22:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Mon 23:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal
Tue	Tue 00:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Tue 01:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 02:00, 62 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 03:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Tue 04:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Tue 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Tue 06:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Tue 07:00, 48 mph, 27% below normal	Tue 08:00, 49 mph, 25% below normal	Tue 09:00, 58 mph, 12% below normal	Tue 10:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Tue 11:00, 60 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 12:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Tue 13:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 14:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Tue 15:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Tue 16:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Tue 17:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 18:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal	Tue 19:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Tue 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Tue 21:00, 64 mph, 4% below normal	Tue 22:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Tue 23:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal
Wed	Wed 00:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 01:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 02:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Wed 03:00, 63 mph, 5% below normal	Wed 04:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Wed 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Wed 06:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Wed 07:00, 49 mph, 26% below normal	Wed 08:00, 52 mph, 21% below normal	Wed 09:00, 58 mph, 12% below normal	Wed 10:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 11:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 12:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 13:00, 62 mph, 7% below normal	Wed 14:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Wed 15:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Wed 16:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Wed 17:00, 58 mph, 11% below normal	Wed 18:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Wed 19:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Wed 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Wed 21:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Wed 22:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Wed 23:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal
Thu	Thu 00:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Thu 01:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Thu 02:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Thu 03:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Thu 04:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Thu 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Thu 06:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Thu 07:00, 49 mph, 26% below normal	Thu 08:00, 53 mph, 20% below normal	Thu 09:00, 59 mph, 11% below normal	Thu 10:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 11:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Thu 12:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 13:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 14:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 15:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Thu 16:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal	Thu 17:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Thu 18:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Thu 19:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Thu 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Thu 21:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Thu 22:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Thu 23:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal
Fri	Fri 00:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 01:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Fri 02:00, 63 mph, 5% below normal	Fri 03:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 04:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Fri 06:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Fri 07:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Fri 08:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Fri 09:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Fri 10:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Fri 11:00, 56 mph, 15% below normal	Fri 12:00, 55 mph, 16% below normal	Fri 13:00, 53 mph, 19% below normal	Fri 14:00, 54 mph, 18% below normal	Fri 15:00, 54 mph, 18% below normal	Fri 16:00, 51 mph, 23% below normal	Fri 17:00, 54 mph, 18% below normal	Fri 18:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal	Fri 19:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Fri 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Fri 21:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Fri 22:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Fri 23:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal
Sat	Sat 00:00, 64 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 01:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 02:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 03:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 04:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Sat 05:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 06:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Sat 07:00, 66 mph, -1% below normal	Sat 08:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Sat 09:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 10:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal	Sat 11:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal	Sat 12:00, 60 mph, 8% below normal	Sat 13:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Sat 14:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sat 15:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 16:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Sat 17:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 18:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Sat 19:00, 67 mph, -1% below normal	Sat 20:00, 66 mph, -1% below normal	Sat 21:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sat 22:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal	Sat 23:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal
Sun	Sun 00:00, 63 mph, 5% below normal	Sun 01:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 02:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 03:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal	Sun 04:00, 65 mph, 2% below normal	Sun 05:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Sun 06:00, 67 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 07:00, 67 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 08:00, 66 mph, -1% below normal	Sun 09:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 10:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 11:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Sun 12:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal	Sun 13:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal	Sun 14:00, 64 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 15:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 16:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 17:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal	Sun 18:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 19:00, 66 mph, 0% below normal	Sun 20:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal	Sun 21:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal	Sun 22:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal	Sun 23:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal

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When is the best time to drive the M61?

Roads that meet the M61

Their roadworks and closures

Questions about the M61

Is the M61 closed right now?

Nothing was confirmed closed at our last check of the National Highways feed (1:38am today, UK time), but 3 closures are booked in the next 24 hours, the first due from 10pm, so it may already be in place. This covers planned roadworks and lane closures, not accidents.

Is the M61 closed tonight?

National Highways has 3 closures booked on the M61 in the next 24 hours, the first due from 10pm, so it may already be in place: M61 Southbound lane 1 closure (MP 3/3 to 0/8); M61 southbound lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 10/3 to 8/5); and M61 Southbound to M60 Clockwise link road lane 2 closure. Plans can change on the night.