WORK to introduce a large section of 'smart motorway' on the M6 in Warrington will start in the new year.

Drivers are being warned to expect two years of disruption when the work begins in March.

Highways England has confirmed roadworks will be in place from junction 21a at Croft up to junction 26 at Orrell.

Drivers in Warrington will be very familiar with the works with the M62 from Croft to Eccles being under restrictions for more than two years.

While the M6 south of the town, from Knutsford to Crewe, had three years of roadworks finish in early 2019.

A spokesman for Highways England said: "In early 2019 we announced that we would be delaying the M6 junctions 21a to 26 scheme. This was to reduce the impact on drivers caused by multiple roadwork projects taking place in the region at the same time.

"We can now confirm that we plan to start construction work on the project in March 2021, and we expect to complete the scheme by spring 2023."

According to Highways England, the M6 between junctions 21a and 26 carries around 120,000 vehicles daily.

Congestion and unreliable journey times are currently experienced at busy periods and traffic is predicted to grow.

The spokesman added: "The M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorway scheme will relieve congestion and smooth the flow of traffic, improving safety and journey times.

"Smart motorways are a technology-driven approach to tackling the most congested parts of the motorway network, improving journey reliability by controlling the flow and speed of traffic. They also support the economy by providing much-needed capacity on the busiest motorways, while maintaining safety for road users and those who work on the roads."

Variable speed limits and live lane closures for drivers will be features of the new technology.

However the move has been criticised elsewhere in the country for increasing risks to drivers with higher rates of collision reported.