Simister Island

Simister Island is a major motorway interchange at junction 18 of the M60 in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. It is approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Manchester city centre and about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Bury, near the village of Simister. The interchange connects three key routes: the M60 orbital, the M62 trans-Pennine route, and the M66 motorway, serving as a critical hub for both regional and national traffic.

It is one of the busiest motorway junctions in North West England, handling approximately 90,000 vehicles per day. The interchange plays an important role in linking Greater Manchester with Lancashire, Yorkshire, and beyond. However, it has long been associated with severe congestion, unreliable journey times, and safety concerns due to traffic volumes far exceeding its original design capacity. To address these issues, a major upgrade has been approved, including new free-flow links, carriageway widening, and improved connectivity, with construction expected to begin after March 2026.