Drivers are being urged to keep road workers safe by taking extra care when travelling on the M62 motorway as it was revealed 200 traffic cones are being hit in the roadworks area each week.

Highways Agency bosses yesterday launched a campaign to prevent deaths and injuries to workers and commuters in West Yorkshire as work nears its final stages on the region’s first managed motorway, between junctions 25 at Brighouse and 30 at Rothwell – a section that includes the Bradford turn-off at junction 26 Chain Bar.

 

A number of steel safety barriers on the majority of the hard shoulder between junction 25 and junction 28 at Tingley have been lifted in the last few weeks, meaning traffic cones are the only protection for road workers working on the £133 million scheme.

But David Pilsworth, the agency’s project manager, said an average of 200 traffic cones need to be replaced each week after being hit by motorists.

Speaking as it launched a ‘Respect’ video encouraging safer driving in the roadworks area, he said: “Road workers have families and loved ones. They come to work safely and we want them to go home safe as well.

In the last three years, eight road workers have been killed while working across England, although none on the M62. However, the agency said there have been near-misses where motorists have driven through coned-off areas or colliding with works vehicles.

Mr Pilsworth said a number of steps have been taken to keep road workers safe, including introducing a ‘zero crossings’ initiative which ensures that, through using technology and remote-controlled signs, they do not have to cross carriageways to put up and take down signs.

Giving a demonstration of one remote-controlled sign, which can be changed from 200 metres away to show lane closures, he said: “Through this, we have saved more than 45,000 crossings of the carriageway.

“But the fact remains that roads are dangerous places to work, and this is particularly true as the scheme nears completion.”

Chris Puttrell, traffic safety and control officer for contractor bmJV, said the safety measures had made a difference to the 2,500 road workers who have worked on the scheme since construction began in October 2011. “It’s very noisy working out on the motorway and you are very close to the traffic. You’ve always got to be aware and keep your wits about you.

“Working behind steel barriers is good protection for workers and it makes you feel a lot safer.

“But it’s not practical to have them the whole way through the road works area and sometimes they have to work behind traffic cones.”

Mr Pilsworth urged motorists to keep within the speed limit, avoid switching lanes, concentrate on the road ahead and not the roadworks and to watch out for works traffic entering or leaving the roadworks area.

He added they should also keep a safe distance, observe and comply with all signs.

Variable mandatory speed limits and hard shoulder opening to improve the flow of traffic between junctions 25 and 27 are expected to start this summer.