MOTORISTS will face months of disruption due to roadworks on a safety barrier upgrade on the M62 between Bradford and Leeds.

The works, which are set to start work after Easter, include a 1.7-mile section of the central reservation barrier around junction 27 at Gildersome which will be upgraded from steel to concrete.

Concrete barriers are even stronger than metal ones and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion.

They are also virtually maintenance free and will last twice as long as normal metal barriers, with far less need for closures for routine repairs.

Work on the M62, between the bridges for Howden Clough Road and Field Head Lane, is set to start after the Easter getaway next month on Tuesday, April 19, and is set to be completed by this winter.

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.

“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.

“We will do all we can to keep disruption to a minimum, but we expect that delays could be severe at peak times, so we are encouraging drivers to plan their journeys to avoid peak times if possible.”

The work is part of a series of enhancements that National Highways is making across the country on more than 60 miles of dynamic hard shoulder (DHS) motorways, where the hard shoulder is used by traffic in busy periods.

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

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

To minimise disruption while work to upgrade the barrier is carried out on the M62, three lanes will remain open to traffic on the eastbound carriageway. However, lane four will be closed and the remaining lanes slightly narrowed to protect the workforce carrying out the upgrade.

On the westbound carriageway, all four lanes will be open during the day, although they will be narrowed. One lane will be closed overnight.

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