Costing �4.4m, the project is being set up on a stretch of the M6, between junction 27 at Standish and junction 32 where it meets the M55.

The Motorway Incident Detector and Automatic Signalling (Midas) scheme, aims to make traffic flow smoother.

The Highways Agency said it is "a highly-sophisticated system."

'Minimise disruption'

The sensors detect slow and stationary traffic and will automatically warn approaching drivers to slow down.

"It protects the back of the queue and stops rear-end shunts - one of the biggest causes of accidents when people are driving too quickly and suddenly meet standing traffic," said project manager Tyze Li.

"Motorists will be inconvenienced while this work is being carried out although most of the closures have been planned for overnight to minimise disruption."

Midas is also linked to the motorway CCTV camera network and can alert police control centres and motoring organisations.