Engineers have begun to upgrade 56 overhead gantries on a 17-mile motorway section between junction 8 of the M60 near Sale and junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale.
A total of four specialist subcontractors will use cranes, scissor lifts and cherry pickers to install new steel support structures, cables, electronic signs and lights.
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In addition, the hard shoulder will be permanently converted into an extra lane between junctions 18 and 20 on the M62 to increase capacity on the route.
The 11-month scheme will be carried out overnight from Monday to Friday. Diversions will be in place.
Highways England project manager Stef Wilson said: "Over 180,000 drivers travel along this stretch of the M60 and M62 every day, making it one of the busiest routes in the country.
"The new smart motorway will use variable speed limits to help tackle the stop-start conditions many of us have experienced in the past and an extra lane will be created on a 5-mile stretch of the M62."
The smart motorway scheme is due to be completed in autumn 2017.
(LM/MH)
