M62 Junction 18: Simister Island, Bury
M62 J18: Simister Interchange is where the eastern section of the M62 begins, and where three motorways meet: the M60 Manchester ring road, the M66 heading north towards Bury, and the M62 heading north-east towards Rochdale, Leeds and Hull.
It is a very symmetrical junction. Seen from above, it is almost a circle, an inner ring of slip roads with an almost straight cross running through the middle and connecting roads curving smoothly round each edge.
The junction sits just north of Heaton Park Reservoir, about half a mile south, and the wider Heaton Park, about a mile south, with Heaton Hall and the Heaton Park Animal Centre. Simister, Kirkhams and Unsworth are beside it, and Whitefield lies about a mile and a half west.
Coming from Liverpool? The western M62 ends at Eccles (J12); follow the M60 north to here to pick up the M62 again. Moto Birch Services is about two miles north-east, and Heywood Interchange (J19) about three miles north-east.
Check this junction now: live M62 speed flow map · latest M62 traffic news · M62 trends
Collisions near junction 18: the police recorded 5 injury collisions on the M62 within about 2.5 km of this junction in 2024 and 2025 (3 serious, 2 slight); 3 on a wet or icy surface; 2 in the morning or evening rush hour. These are the police-reported figures published by the Department for Transport (STATS19).
On the M60 ring road this is M60 Junction 18: see live M60 traffic.
Birch Services is on the M62 between junctions 18 and 19, north of Manchester near Heywood.
- Junction M62 J18
- Signed for M60, M66 · Simister Island, Bury
- Next junction eastbound J19, 2.3 miles
- Next junction westbound J12, 4.5 miles
Live traffic at M62 junction 18
The speed strip below shows the M62 from junction 11 to junction 20, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.
Live traffic speed flow: M62 Junctions 11 to 20
Untick all three to see just the speeds. We show the important overhead signs and the mandatory speed limits (red ring); see every overhead sign.
Go to our live M62 traffic speed flow map ›
NOTE: The speed flow, overhead sign messages or other information shown on our live traffic speed flow map is updated every few minutes. We cross check the data and aim to provide warnings if there could be a delay or an inaccurate speed reading. There can be occasions, beyond our control, and despite our best efforts where the speed flow could be inaccurate. We cannot therefore guarantee the speed you can expect on any stretch of the motorway is always accurately shown. However we hope you will find our live traffic speed flow map a useful tool in trying to plan your journey. Safe driving.
All the latest M62 traffic news →Live M62 traffic flow map →
Around M62 Junction 18: Towns and Places on the Map
| Place | What it is | From the junction |
|---|---|---|
| Heaton Park Animal Centre | Attraction | About 1 mile south |
| Heaton Park Fair Ground | Attraction | About 1.5 miles south |
| Moto Birch Services | Motorway services | About 2 miles north-east |
| Alkrington Hall | Historic house or castle | About 2.5 miles east |
| Clifton | Railway station | About 3 miles south-west |
| Harpurhey Shopping Centre | Shopping | About 3.5 miles south-east |
| Fairfield Hospital | Hospital | About 3.5 miles north |
| Heywood | Railway station | About 3.5 miles north-east |
Junctions either side
Live traffic news at M62 Junction 18
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 17 and Junction 19 that we are aware of.
M62 eastbound Jct 35 to M18 southbound Jct 7, carriageway closure (C)
23:47 (11:47pm)21 Oct 2026reported 10 min ago
- Location
- M18 southbound between J7 and J6
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Carriageway closed
- Reason
- Roadworks
- Schedule
- 20:00 (8pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Thu 22 Oct 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
This is the news for Junction 18 only, not the whole M62. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M62 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.
Updated 23:57 (11:57pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026