Two Slip Roads at Tarbock Island to Stay Shut Until January
Drivers face more disruption at Tarbock Island, the roundabout at junction six of the M62 in Knowsley. Two motorway slip roads will stay closed until January, and resurfacing work will shut part of the roundabout overnight.
The improvement scheme began in March 2024. Knowsley Council now expects the roundabout to reopen fully by mid-January 2027.
Which roads are closed
The M57 southbound exit is closed until January 2027. Drivers coming from Prescot and Kirkby are sent along the M57 to the Knowsley Expressway (A5300) before they return to Tarbock Island.
The M62 eastbound exit at junction six is also closed until January 2027. Drivers travelling from Liverpool are diverted to junction seven and come back westbound.
The eastern side of the roundabout has overnight closures between 20:00 and 05:00 GMT until 13 November, while crews carry out resurfacing and finishing work. They cover the stretch from Cronton Road, near Aldi, to the A5300 northbound exit, which stays open. During the day that side of the roundabout is cut to a single lane.
The council said the M62 eastbound exit slip road would be opened overnight for traffic heading west along Cronton Road towards Huyton, and for that traffic only.
Frustration among residents and traders
The works have drawn complaints from residents and businesses. One trader, named only as Mark, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that customers were giving up trying to reach his premises because of the roadworks.
Another person wrote on Facebook that the roundabout had been disrupting local residents for years with constant closed junctions.
The council said the size of the project meant the work had to be done in phases to keep traffic moving. A spokesperson said: "We expect that Tarbock Island will be fully re-opened by mid-January and if it is possible to open the roundabout sooner, we will of course do so."
When finished, the scheme will add lanes on the approaches to the roundabout and improve traffic flow, according to the authority. It said the changes would also support developments expected to bring about 2,000 jobs to the borough.
Drivers have been advised to plan ahead, allow more time for journeys or use alternative routes where possible.
Source: BBC News