Call for safety measures to be added to motorway bridges in Wigan after woman's tragic death

Floral tributes have been left on a bridge on Downall Green Road, Bryn, over the M6 southbound between junction 25 and 24, after the woman died in a fatal collision on Friday, January 16.

She has not been publicly named, but her sudden death sparked an outpouring of grief in the surrounding area.

Coun Danny Fletcher, who represents the Ashton-in-Makerfield South ward, said it followed other recent incidents where people had apparently taken their own lives.

He has been contacted by “large numbers” of people concerned about safety on bridges and hopes action can be taken to prevent other tragedies happening on the motorway.

He has written to Highways England to formally request a safety review of motorway bridges in the area.

In his letter, Coun Fletcher wrote: “This deeply distressing event has prompted a significant public outcry regarding the safety of motorway overbridges in the area. Residents have contacted me in large numbers expressing their fears, particularly around the absence of enhanced protective measures on bridges that cross high speed motorway sections.

“Given the repeated nature of serious incidents on this stretch of motorway, and the intense local concern that has followed, I am requesting that National Highways undertake the following:

“A full safety audit of all motorway bridges in and around Ashton-in-Makerfield, including Downall Green Road and other overbridges between junction 23 and junction 26.

“An assessment of existing protective infrastructure, including fencing height, anti‑climb features, sight lines and CCTV coverage.

“Recommendations for immediate and longer‑term safety improvements, including physical barriers or other preventative designs used successfully in comparable locations.

“Our community is united in its call for decisive action to prevent further loss of life. As local representatives, we have a responsibility to ensure that all possible safeguards are in place.”

Coun Fletcher told the Observer he believed similar measures had been introduced elsewhere by National Highways and he hoped it could be done in Wigan.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “While we cannot comment on an ongoing police investigation, at National Highways the safety of everyone on our network matters and we routinely review measures to improve that.”

While Coun Fletcher awaits a reply to his letter to National Highways, he has been spreading the word about support services available in the borough for people who may be struggling with mental health issues.

As Wigan Council’s lead member for public health and leisure, Coun Fletcher has arranged for posters featuring information about men’s suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club to be placed in leisure centres across the borough.

He has also been using social media to promote the help available to women, including peer-to-peer support through EPiC Hope and The Girls’ Club.

He said the Chrysalis Centre, in St Helens, had also offered fully funded professional counselling for women in Ashton and Wigan, either in person, by phone or by video,

Alternatively, if you need to speak to someone, call Samaritans at any time on 116 123.