National Highways’ data shows the number of reported flooding events have decreased on the M60 motorway in recent years. This follows targeted investigations by National Highways and the implementation of measures to reduce flooding risks.

National Highways undertakes regular inspections and maintenance to keep drainage systems functioning effectively. It has also delivered several improvement schemes on the M60 and plans to start further upgrades later this financial year.

The Department is currently developing the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which will span the five-year period from April 2026 to March 2031. The Strategy is scheduled for publication in March 2026 and will outline the funding settlement allocated to National Highways for operating, maintaining, renewing, and enhancing the Strategic Road Network (SRN) during RIS3.

A draft version of the Strategy was published in August, setting out the overall funding envelope and the key objectives that National Highways is expected to achieve. RIS3 will build on the progress made since the first Strategy (RIS1) was introduced in 2015, continuing efforts to:

• Deliver a long-term programme of capital renewals for ageing roads and structures

• Implement committed enhancement schemes

• Advance long-term performance targets

An Interim Settlement is currently in place for National Highways for the 2025–26 financial year.

National Highways’ Performance Specification includes a Performance Indicator for litter. This metric monitors the cleanliness of the Strategic Road Network and is the percentage of the Strategic Road Network where litter is graded at A or B as defined in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of practice on Litter and Refuse. National Highways performance indicator score for 2023-24 is 59.2% of the Network is graded at A or B.

National Highways is monitored against its Performance Specification by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.

National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67. Although litter is not the primary purpose, it is taken into consideration as part of these inspections, and any concerns are recorded.

National Highways’ most recent inspection of the M67 and M60 in Denton took place on 20 March 2025.

The inspection identified the condition of the litter at various locations along these routes as Grade C, as defined in the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Code of practice on litter and refuse). National Highways is currently making arrangements for this litter to be removed.

National Highways undertakes inspections of the Strategic Road Network in line with the DMRB GS801 Asset Delivery Asset Inspections Requirements standard and the inspectors survey and grade the Strategic Road Network in accordance with The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse.

The Office for Road and Rail (ORR), as Highways Monitor, also plays an important role in monitoring National Highways’ litter clearance on behalf of the Secretary of State and holding National Highways to account for its licence commitments. The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.

National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67, litter is identified and reported on in accordance with the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.

National Highways programme of cyclic maintenance involves litter collections on the M60 and the M67 annually. In addition to those routine litter picks, National Highways will arrange for reactive litter picking where any section of the Strategic Road Network has been identified as reaching Grade C or D according to the Code. In these cases, litter picking is carried out within 28 and 7 days respectively, depending on the grading recorded and any road space or traffic management constraints.

The schemes in question are in different stages as follows:

Four schemes have been completed and are open to traffic.

The following three schemes are in construction and expected completion dates as follows:

As the Chancellor informed Parliament on 29 July, an internal review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio has been commissioned. The primary aim of the review is to provide strategic advice to the Secretary of State, which may in turn inform decisions on specific projects as part of the multiyear Spending Review. Schemes below are subject to this review and therefore we cannot give any assurances around delivery of these schemes until the Spending Review concludes.

Finally, the A5036 Princess Way scheme was cancelled in the Autumn Budget 2024.

Three separate litter picks have been undertaken on this section of the M60 since the beginning of February with 65 bags of litter and 8 large pieces of debris removed. National Highways’ most recent assessment of cleanliness within this area was made on 18 April 2023 with another planned for 25 April 2023.

I am committed to tackling the amount of litter deposited on our roads and I agree that there is more we can all do to keep the Strategic Road Network, roads and streets clear of litter, therefore I would be happy to meet with the honourable Member for Denton and Reddish to discuss how we can best tackle litter on the roads in his constituency.

National Highways will be happy meet the honourable Member for Denton and Reddish to discuss litter on the Strategic Roads in his constituency.

Highways England aims to remove from sight the graffiti currently on its structures in Stockport within the next three months.

Highways England is working closely with the Department to tackle the issue of graffiti on structures along the strategic road network in England. Graffiti on these structures is removed from sight within twenty-four hours of being reported if it is offensive, obscene, blasphemous or racist. Non-offensive graffiti, as appears along the M60 through Stockport, would normally be removed from sight at a later date, when Highways England is undertaking other works in the area in order to minimise disruption to road users, or as part of Highways England’s regular cycle of clean and sweep activity.

The decision on whether to mark historic county boundaries on road signs is for each local highway authority, or, in the case of the Strategic Road Network, for Highways England, to consider. Highways England has no plans to install any such signs.

The M60 J8 to M62 J20 is a busy stretch of urban motorway and due to the complexities this scheme presented, it was became clear that creating long lengths of roadworks for the whole delivery of the scheme was not practical, and that phasing the works was a more appropriate approach. This assessment of working practices is currently being shared with future smart motorway projects.

Highways England is opening the scheme is phases with two key sections already opened. Full completion is expected by the end of summer 2018.

In Highways England’s Delivery Plan for roads period 2015-2020 the M60 Junction 8 to M62 Junction 20 Smart Motorway Scheme was forecast to be open to traffic in quarter 2 of the 2017/18 financial year. In August 2017, Highways England published their Delivery Plan Update (Supplementary Annex) and the construction programme for this scheme was extended so that additional works including flood mitigation and pavement resurfacing could be completed under the existing restrictions. This will help avoid the need for future additional network access in this location. Highways England is opening the scheme in phases. Junction 18 – 20 of the M62 and Junction 8 – 10 of the M60 are now open. Full completion is expected by the end of summer 2018.

The western side of the M60, in the process of the upgrading to the smart motorway system, has seen congestion, gridlock and horror for commuting traffic on a daily basis. Even now, the 50 mph limit remains in place. When will we see progress?

I know that these works have taken longer than intended. I have spoken to Highways England and we want to get this situation resolved as quickly as

possible. It is certainly the case, as somebody who travels from time to time to Old Trafford, that the area is surrounded by roadworks on the motorway and the work on the new extension to the Metrolink. I hope the hon. Gentleman will acknowledge, however, that this is a sign that the Government are making sure there is investment in, and resource provided to, Manchester, where transport investment on this scale has not happened for a long time.