Hard shoulder plan for M62

Jul 2 2009 By Barry Gibson

ROAD bosses today unveil a radical plan to tackle congestion on the M62.

In a move which could bring relief to thousands of Huddersfield commuters, the Highways Agency has proposed letting drivers use the hard shoulder both ways from Brighouse to Rothwell.

The agency would build parking bays every 800m along the hard shoulders for motorists to stop in while emergency vehicles pass.

Cars which break down would also use the bays, known as emergency refuge areas.

Roadside signs between Junction 25 and Junction 30 would tell drivers when it was safe to use the hard shoulder. Staff in the agency’s regional control centre in Wakefield would direct traffic in to the emergency refuge areas when necessary.

The Highways Agency has come up with the plan as a way of relieving congestion on the M62 without having to build a fourth conventional lane.

The agency has proposed opening the hard shoulder to traffic round-the-clock between Junction 25 at Clifton near Brighouse and Junction 26 at Chain Bar.

From Chain Bar to Junction 28 near Morley the hard shoulder would be open at peak times to ease congestion.