ROADWORKS on the M62 are causing major traffic issues again this morning.

The improvement works are taking place near junction 27 (M621, Gildersome), with the central reservation safety barrier being upgraded from steel to concrete.

This has meant lanes have been narrowed on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways in the construction area, to protect the workforce.

Lane four of the eastbound carriageway is also closed and there is a 50mph speed limit in the area.

This is causing heavy traffic on that side of the motorway, mainly between junction 26 (M606, Chain Bar) and junction 27.

Congestion is said to be stretching back to junction 24 (Ainley Top) currently, with journeys taking an extra 40 minutes than usual.

Traffic looks to be flowing freely on the westbound carriageway.

All lanes are open on that side during the day, with one closed overnight.

The roadworks are expected to continue until Winter this year.

They are taking place on a 1.7-mile stretch, between the bridges for Howden Clough Road and Field Head Lane.

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.

But Paul Unwin, who is overseeing the upgrades for National Highways, said back in March that he was expecting the works to cause major delays during the morning and evening rush hours.

He said: “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.”