MOTORISTS across the North East have been warned to allow extra travelling time on Tuesday as an abnormal load is set to pass through the region. 

The 133-tonne vehicle will be carrying 50 metre long beams from Cleveland Bridge's factory on Yarm Road, Darlington, for a new bridge at junction 10 of the M6 in the West Midlands.

After leaving Darlington, it will travel along the A66 and south on the A1 before joining the eastbound M62 at junction 32A (Ferrybridge). 

The lorry then needs to cross over the central reservation and travel the wrong way on the westbound M62 to junction 35 (Langham), drive the wrong way down the M18 to M62 westbound link road and on to the M18 where it will cross back on to the correct side of the road and continue its journey to the Midlands via the M1. 

To enable the load to cross the carriageway through the central reservation on both the M62 and M18, the following full road closures will be in place from 8pm tonight: 

The M62 east and westbound from junctions 33 (Ferrybridge) to 36 (Goole)
The M18 north and southbound from junction 7 (Langham) to 6 (Waterside)

Clearly signed diversions will be in place and the roads will be reopened as soon as possible after the abnormal load has completed its manoeuvres.

Road users should allow extra time for their journeys and check @HighwaysNEAST and @HighwaysYORKS on Twitter for updates. 

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