National Highways has revealed the latest updates for its roadwork schemes along the M62 and M621.
There’s lots of enhancement work already underway – from improving sections of the region’s smart motorways to swapping metal safety barrier upgrades to concrete versions.
Some lanes are set to be made more wide or narrow while additional lanes are also being created.
Here’s what the road agency had to say when asked about the current stages of various projects along the major motorway through West Yorkshire.
National Highways Regional Sponsor Paul Unwin said: “While we are pleased that work continues to progress, we know that this is a very busy part of the road network and are mindful of the unavoidable disruption caused by this work. We apologise for any delays and will continue to do all we can to keep disruption to a minimum.
“In the meantime, we strongly advise drivers to plan their journeys to avoid peak times, consider alternative routes if possible and allow more time to reach their destination.”
Junctions 25 and 30
Since work began in April 2022, National Highways has been working on enhancing the dynamic hard shoulder smart motorway between junctions 25 and 30 south of Leeds.
A 1.7-mile section of the central reservation barrier around junction 27 at Gildersome has been upgraded from steel to concrete.
The barrier work was completed in October 2022 and workers are now looking at safety improvements in the verge.
Any additional restrictions will be overnight when traffic volumes are at their lowest and will be communicated in advance.
National Highways said: “To minimise disruption while the upgrade was carried out, three lanes remained open to traffic on the eastbound carriageway. However, lane four was closed and the remaining lanes slightly narrowed to protect the workforce carrying out the upgrade.
“On the westbound carriageway, all four lanes were kept open during the day, with one lane closed overnight.”
Other progress includes repairs to a bridge at junction 27 of the M62 (Gildersome) and waterproofing efforts on two bridges that carry the M62 over Tingley Interchange at junction 28.
This work will protect the bridge joints and structure from rainwater damage, reducing the need for emergency repairs in the future.
Concrete vs steel barriers on motorways
Concrete barriers are even stronger than metal ones, National Highways said, and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another.
It is hoped to improve safety on the roads and reduce the duration of incident-related congestion.
Concrete barriers are also virtually maintenance free and will last much longer than normal metal barriers, with far less need for closures for routine repairs.
Junctions 26 (Chain Bar) and 27 (Gildersome)
Improvements on the M62 in West Yorkshire have now moved to their next stage. National Highways began installing a new emergency area on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 26 (Chain Bar) and 27 (Gildersome) in December.
It will provide an extra place for drivers to stop in an emergency. This work is due to be completed by early summer 2023.
On the westbound carriageway, between junctions 26 and 28 (Tingley), National Highways is also carrying out drainage upgrades on the verges.
National Highways said: “All work is subject to weather conditions. This section of work on the verges was expected to be complete by the end of this month, however due to poor weather, this section of work on the drainage is now expected to be complete by March this year.
“To enable this work to be carried out safely, temporary speed limits have been put in place between junctions 26 and 28.
“A 50mph limit will be in place while the emergency area is being installed on the eastbound carriageway, with narrower lanes in place in that section.
“A 60mph limit will be in place on the westbound carriageway where the drainage improvements are taking place.”
Overnight M62 closure
On Saturday, January 28, the M62 is due to close overnight between junctions 26 (Chain Bar) and 28 (Tingley).
It is expected to close again overnight on Saturday, February 4. Both closures will be in place between 8pm and 8am the following day.
This will enable engineers to develop the additional emergency refuge area on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 26 and 27 (Gildersome) and drainage upgrades on the verges on the westbound carriageway.
Diversions will be in place during the closures.
This is the latest step in the series of upgrades taking place on the motorways including the M62 in 2022, National Highways said. This segment of work is expected to finish in September 2023.
M62 junctions 28 to 29
National Highways has now also begun replacing more than three miles of steel central barrier with concrete. This work has begun on the M62 between junctions 28 (Tingley) and 29 (Lofthouse), with lighting also upgraded to LED.
Once work on the M62 barrier has begun, the scheme will move on to include work on the barrier of the M1 between junctions 42 (Lofthouse) and 43 (Belle Isle) and at junction 7 of the M621 (Stourton).
To enable this work to take place and keep drivers and the workforce safe, narrow lanes will be put in place on this stretch of road overnight on January 14 and 15 January. Then, from January 16, a temporary central safety barrier will be installed to keep the workforce safe.
From this date, a 50mph speed limit will also be in place on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 28 and 29.
The outside lane will also be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Traffic will run under narrow lanes with the hard shoulder used to keep three lanes running during the work over Tingley Interchange.
Between Saturday, January 14, and Thursday, January 19, full overnight closures will also be in place on the M62 eastbound between junctions 28 and 29. The closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am each night.
The following weeks will see the work moving to the westbound carriageway of the M62 as well as the M1.
All work on this scheme is expected to be completed in November 2023.
M621
At the same time as the work on the M62, National Highways is carrying out a scheme of major improvements on the M621 in Leeds, between junctions 1 and 7.
Between Thursday, January 5 and Friday, January 13, National Highways has hosted a series of overnight lane closures on the M621.
Improvements are currently focused around junction 2 (Elland Road), with the aim of widening the road and reducing traffic at this busy junction.
There will be additional lanes at the junction 2 roundabout, as well as a dedicated lane and left turn between the M621 and A643 northbound.
To help keep delays to a minimum, National Highways has installed narrower lanes around junction 2 and its approaches. This means the same number of lanes can remain open for public traffic, therefore not reducing capacity.
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