A GIANT 40m structure is set to be lifted into place over the M6 next week.

The 20 tonne gantry will span the width of the motorway between junction 19 at Knutsford and junction 18 at Holmes Chapel, showing 10 large signs to the 118,000 motorists who use the route every day.

Having been constructed offsite, the ‘superspan’ gantry will be lifted into place by a crane overnight on Wednesday, June 27.

And the southbound stretch of the M6 will close between 10pm and 6am on that night, with the northbound carriageway to be shut for a matter of minutes at one point.

It is the largest single structure being installed as part of a £274m upgrade of the 20-mile stretch of motorway between junction 19 and junction 16 of the motorway.

Other parts of the M6 will be closed overnight to install smaller gantries.

Highways England’s scheme will also see the hard shoulder converted into an extra permanent lane, with variable speed limits to be installed along the route.

Project manager Arun Sahni said: “This is a major milestone for the project, and a lot of planning and preparation work has been carried out to make sure the gantry can be lifted into place as quickly and safely as possible.

“The superspan gantry is one of a series of structures we’re installing along the smart motorway route to hold over 250 electronic signs that will provide drivers with live information about their journeys, and help to improve journey times by tackling stop-start conditions caused by sudden braking.

“We’d like to thank drivers for their patience while this work takes place – we’re on schedule to complete the smart motorway upgrade by spring next year and are doing everything we can to minimise disruption, including keeping all of the lanes open in both directions during the day.”