Drivers will be able to use an extra lane on the M1 near Wakefield from next month before the new smart motorway goes live a week later.
The long running works designed to ease congestion are nearing completion, and the extra lane will be available from Saturday, December 5.
A 50mph speed limit will stay in place as Highways England contractors test the technology before the first phase of the system goes live on a 7.5 mile stretch between junction 39 (Denby Dale) and junction 41 (Morley) the following Saturday.
The project will be similar to the smart motorway section of the M62 in West Yorkshire, which uses the latest technology to monitor traffic levels, provide traffic information to road users, and ease congestion through variable speed limits on overhead message signs.
On the M1, an extra lane will also open on the northbound carriageway between junction 41 and junction 42 (Lofthouse). Work is continuing between the junctions and a 50mph speed limit will remain in place until this phase of the smart motorway scheme goes live in the new year.
The hard shoulder will also be permanently converted into an extra lane between junctions 39 and 42 to provide extra capacity.
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Contractors for Highways England have installed 6,172 road studs, put in nearly seven miles of reinforced concrete barriers in the central reservation and resurfaced the same length on both carriageways.
And they have also put in 10 gantries with 38 electronic signs as part of the full scheme.
Highways England project manager Tsuwun Bevan said: “Smart motorways are already proving successful in other parts of the country and we have now reached a stage where we can open this section of the M1 between junctions 39 and 41.
The calm before the storm: amazing pictures of the M62 under construction 45 years ago below
“By opening this extra lane it will help to reduce congestion during peak times for drivers by providing four lanes to ease the flow of traffic.”
Contractors will return to site in the new year to carry out some additional maintenance work such as bridge waterproofing and resurfacing, and there could be overnight and weekend closures.
The smart motorway scheme is already functional on the M62 between Leeds and Brighouse, and work is under way on the stretch from Rochdale to Manchester.
And there are plans for the stretch near Huddersfield to become a smart motorway over the next five years.
The work will see 19 miles between junctions 20 at Rochdale and 25 at Brighouse upgraded but drivers could face 50mph speed limits for around two to three years due to the work.
