Plan for traffic on M62 hard shoulder

Jan 17 2009 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A GOVERNMENT decision not to widen the M62 near Huddersfield has been branded a disgrace.

A proposal to widen the M62 between junction 25 at Clifton, near Brighouse, and junction 28 near Tingley have long been mooted.

But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has revealed drivers will instead be allowed to use the hard shoulder – originally created for safety when cars break down and to allow emergency vehicles to get past traffic jams.

Mr Hoon said this would not be allowed until after 2012 as it would still need major upgrade work first.

Officials also announced they were looking at extending the high occupancy vehicle lane being trialled on the M62 at its junction with the M606 at junction 26 at Chain Bar.

This has already taken away some of the hard shoulder and this could now be extended along the eastbound hard shoulder to junction 27 of the M62, the M621 junction at Gildersome.

Only cars with at least one passenger would be able to use it.