Work to take place on improving safety barriers along the M62

National Highways is starting work on a series of enhancements on more than 60 miles of dynamic hard shoulder motorway across the country by upgrading the central reservation safety barriers.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The steel central reservation is being replaced with a more modern, concrete barrier, which is even stronger than the metal ones and helps to significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another.

The work is taking place on seven sections of dynamic hard shoulder motorway - where the hard shoulder is used by traffic in busy periods - and begins in the Midlands this month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Paul Unwin, who is overseeing the upgrades for National Highways, said: "Safety is our top priority. Upgrading these barriers will improve journeys and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion.

The M62 at Hartshead servicesThe M62 at Hartshead services
The M62 at Hartshead services

"We will continue to deliver safety enhancements to these motorways, which are among the busiest in the country and are relied on by hundreds of thousands of people every day.

As announced in the Government response to the Transport Committee recommendations, the conversion of DHS sections of motorway to All Lane Running has been paused while alternative ways to operate the dynamic hard shoulder are considered.

During the pause National Highways will be installing further safety measures where DHS motorways are in operation including upgrading the central reservation safety barrier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To minimise disruption while work to upgrade the barrier is carried out, three lanes will remain open to traffic. However, lane four will be closed and lane three slightly narrowed to protect the workforce carrying out the upgrade.

A 50mph speed limit will also be in place and occasional overnight closures may be required.

The whole stretch of the M6 between junctions 4 and 10a (Essington) is being upgraded in sections, beginning with the section between junctions 4 and 5 on Monday.

The other stretches of DHS motorway to be upgraded are the M62 junctions 25-30 (Brighouse to Rothwell), M42 junctions 4 to 7 (Dorridge to the M6 Coleshill Interchange), M1 junctions 10 to 13 (Luton Airport to Bedford) and M4 junctions 19 to 20 and M5 junctions 16 to 17

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This work, which will be completed by 2025, is part of National Highways’ commitment to make England’s smart motorways even safer and improve confidence in them.

* Support your Halifax Courier by becoming a digital subscriber. You will see 70 per cent fewer ads on stories, meaning faster load times and an overall enhanced user experience. Click here to subscribe

Related topics: