PART of the M66 and the A56 trunk road will close overnight until the end of August for major roadworks.

From tomorrow until August 25 — overnight from 8pm to 5am and 7am at weekends — a Highways England order will ban all traffic on the northbound carriageway from the last point where the M66 Junction 1 exit slip road leaves the carriageway, to the first point where the entry slip road from the A56 roundabout with Bent Gate joins the A56 northbound carriageway.

The southbound carriageway will also be off-limits from the last point where the exit slip road leaves the A56 to where it joins the M66 southbound.

The order will also ban traffic from laybys next to the northbound carriageway 100m north of the Langley House over bridge, and next to the southbound carriageway 65m north of the Church Lane over bridge. Highways England says the closures are to allow for high friction surfacing, renewal of road markings, road studs, traffic detector loops, lighting and barrier repair work to be carried out safely.

Cyclists and buses will not be permitted to use the carriageways either. Diversion routes via alternative junctions of the M66/A56 will be well signposted.