Man slams M62 'nightmare' roadworks after being stuck in traffic for THREE HOURS and missing wife's birthday dinner

A Bolton man has slammed 'nightmare' traffic caused by major M62 roadworks over the weekend, saying he spent THREE HOURS in the delay - causing him and his wife to miss her birthday dinner.

David Hardman and his wife Elaine expected a 15-minute journey, but were stuck in queues for almost three hours due to major roadworks on the M62 on Sunday evening (September 8).

The couple left their home in Lostock, Bolton, at 5.45pm to make the drive to Croma in Prestwich, where they had booked a meal to celebrate his wife's birthday.

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"It was my wife's birthday and our grandson was going back to uni so we thought we would combine the two events," explained Mr Hardman, 77.

"I allowed loads of time just in case because you never know."

As they were driving down the M61, a road sign warned that the M62 was 'closed beyond junction 18'. However, Mr Hardman said his Google Maps app showed a delay of just eight minutes.

He decided to continue on the motorway, but upon joining the M60, he hit standstill traffic. After 15 minutes, they had barely moved so phoned the restaurant, and staff promised to 'hold the table'.

However, the traffic showed no sign of moving. "We waited and waited," said Mr Hardman. "Nothing was moving, it was a nightmare."

They eventually arrived at junction 17 - the turn off for Prestwich - at 8.30pm - nearly three hours after they had set off.

"The restaurant had said the last serving was at half past eight," he said. "We just went round the roundabout and back home.

"It took 15 minutes coming back. My daughter and grandson went to find a McDonald's, but we just went home and had a snack."

Mr Hardman said he was