Work begins on £283m M62 smart motorway scheme between junction 20 and 25

As part of improvements planned for this scheme, variable mandatory speed limits will be used to manage traffic speeds with the aim of helping to reduce congestion.

The cost of the scheme is £283.2 million but could rise as high as £392.3 million.

Preparation work for the scheme has started today.

A spokesperson for Highways England said" "We will be carrying out work on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 20 and 22 of the M62 to strengthen the hard shoulder in areas so it can be used as a temporary lane during the construction of the smart motorway project next year.

"We expect this work to take approximately two weeks to complete, and we’ll need to use lane or full carriageway closures most nights between 10pm and 6am.

"A signed diversion route will be in place when the eastbound carriageway is closed.

"To complete this work safely, we will introduce temporary narrow lanes and a reduced speed limit of 50mph on the eastbound carriageway. The majority of this work will be carried out overnight when traffic levels are much lower and we’ll keep three lanes open in each direction during the day.

"It is possible that this work will create some noise disruption for local residents, but we will take steps to minimise any overnight disturbance as far as possible.

"We expect to complete this work by July, ahead of the main construction work starting on this project next year."

Why is the scheme needed?

Highways England says the M62 is the only east-west motorway spanning the north of England.

Running between Merseyside and Yorkshire through Cheshire and Lancashire, it serves as both a regional route for longer distance trips and as an important inter-urban route between the Manchester and Leeds city regions.

The Government’s Northern Powerhouse strategy identified a need for improved east-west major road links to ensure better and more reliable journey times between the major cities within the north.

The M62 junction 20 to 25 smart motorway is approximately 19 miles long, running through a rural Pennine landscape that contains the highest point on a motorway in England.

Highways England said this high altitude increases the risk of disruption caused by severe weather.

The gradients on approach to the summits are around four per cent 1:25), which creates the risk of congestion caused by slow moving or broken-down vehicles.

the Agency says Traffic flows on this part of the network exceed capacity during peak periods leading to congestion. Smart motorways will provide 33 per cent additional capacity on the most congested sections of this route.