M62

The first stretch of managed motorway in the north of England has gone live after an extended period of testing, a development which is expected to reduce congestion on a section of the M62 in West Yorkshire.

The 2.7-mile section, between junction 27 at Gildersome and junction 28 at Tingley, is the first section in a ‘managed motorway’ programme that will eventually cover junctions 25 to 30.

Works on the rest of the scheme are expected to be completed by the autumn.

Project manager David Pilsworth said, "We are delighted that the first section of managed motorway is now live and road users can start to feel the benefits of reduced congestion and improved journey times."

"Works on the rest of the scheme are expected to be completed by the autumn."

Overhead signs on the section, operated by the UK Highways Agency’s regional control centre in Wakefield, will indicate when drivers can use the hard shoulder as an extra lane, which will help ease congestion.

In addition, the stretch will display variable mandatory speed limits indicated by a red ring, for a smooth traffic flow.

Information on lane closures may also be displayed as required.

The speed limit on the newly-opened section of managed motorway will remain at a maximum of 50mph for safety reasons, at all times, until additional sections go live in early summer.

Nearly 150,000 vehicles use the stretch every day.

The overall M62 managed motorway scheme comprises installation of controlled motorway technology along the whole scheme length – junctions 25 to 30 – in order to allow variable speed limits to be displayed, in order to ease traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Image: Works on the rest of the M62 managed motorway scheme are expected to be completed by the autumn. Photo courtesy of Mr M Evison.