Improvements will include an extra lane in certain places

On Wednesday transport secretary Alistair Darling gave the go-ahead to the scheme, which will include the building of a fourth lane on parts of the motorway.

The work, which is expected to be completed by 2011, is part of a �7bn project to improve major road networks across England.

The M60 scheme might also include attempts to separate long-distance and local traffic with the construction of bypass slip roads.

An extra lane has been earmarked for the stretch of the motorway between junction 13 at Worsley and junction 15 at Wardley.

[More lanes] will be bad for motorists and bad for the environment Stephen Joseph, Transport 2000

A feasibility study will research the possibility of bypass slip roads at the interchange at Eccles.

At Horwich Parkway, the park and ride facilities will also be expanded and pedestrian and cycle facilities over the M60 improved.

Mr Darling acknowledged that expanding roads could not be the only option in the future.

He said: "Looking ahead 20 to 30 years as the economy grows and people become better off, we face increasing pressure on road space.

"We will not be able to build our way out of all the pressures we will face."

However, in response to building extra lanes Stephen Joseph, from the pressure group Transport 2000, said congestion will not be improved at all.

He said: "It will simply put more cars on the road and make things worse in the long run.