Work will begin on replacing the M6 Thelwall Viaduct's joints on 1 September.
Some motorists drove the wrong way up a slip road on the M6 to avoid a crash, police said.
Work on the Kex Gill bypass began three years ago but the project has faced several delays.
Part of the M6 will shut in both directions for the next three consecutive weekends near Penrith.
People heading to Birmingham Airport via the route have been warned to expect delays.
Resurfacing work on the M6 junction 31A northbound near Preston starts overnight on 26 July.
Roadworks on the M6 in Warrington ran past the 06:00 finish time, National Highways says.
All lanes near Wednesbury reopened just before 21:00 BST on Thursday, National Highways says.
Police say a woman who was a passenger in a taxi on the M6 near Coventry, died in hospital.
