Next phase for M62 roadworks

One carriageway of the M62 will be closed between junctions 28 at Tingley and 29 at Lofthouse every weeknight from Monday until mid-December.

The closures are part of a major scheme to create the region’s first managed motorway scheme between junctions 25 and 30 to relieve congestion.

It will use electronic displays on gantries to set speed limits and open the hard shoulder as an additional lane on some stretches.

The hard shoulder will also become a permanent traffic lane in both directions between junctions 25 and 26, and westbound only between junctions 30 and 29.

Work to install 36 new gantries and upgrade a further 16 began in March.

Highways Agency project manager David Pilsworth said: “We have now installed all 36 of the new gantries required for the managed motorway scheme.

“Our focus is now on the upgrade of 16 existing gantries between junctions 28 and 30 to managed motorway standard. To achieve this we require these weeknight closures.”

He said the closures were all weather dependent, but teams were on track to complete the gantry work before Christmas.

“Although by then the scheme may look finished in places, we will still have a lot of work to do to bring the managed motorway into operation – including behind the scenes work to install and test the extensive new technology that is a key feature of every managed motorway,” he said.

Work on the managed motorway scheme, which is due to open in 2013-14, began in October 2011.

Traffic will be diverted via the M621 and M1 during the weeknight closures, 8pm-6am.

Full motorway closures will also take place overnight between junctions 29 at Lofthouse and 30 at Rothwell on Saturdays until mid-December.

All traffic will be diverted via the M1, A639 and A642, 8pm-9am.