A £150m managed motorway scheme is now in the fast lane and set to go live next month.
The scheme – which has created four lanes and removed the hard shoulder on a busy stretch of the M62 – is set to become operational within days on key stretches.
And drivers in the Brighouse area will see a fourth lane introduced next month.
The news will come as welcome relief for drivers used to massive traffic jams on the M62.
The project entered its final phase last month with sections of gantry signs illuminated with mandatory speed limits and the average speed cameras are still there to enforce them.
But from this month junctions at Cleckheaton (junction 26) and Gildersome (junction 27) will become fully operational with use of the hard shoulder and variable speed limits directed by the digital gantries.
Further stretches between junction 25 ( Brighouse ) and junction 26 (Cleckheaton) will be introduced in the first few weeks of August.
The overall scheme is designed to deal with accidents and breakdowns and refuge areas have been created at regular intervals next to the inside lane.
On top of this the whole road network will be constantly monitored by 62 cameras to allow newly-installed gantry signs to provide up-to-the-minute information for drivers.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “Work on the M62 managed motorway project is progressing well and we remain on schedule to open in the autumn, as planned.
“We are still hoping to deliver the scheme earlier than this if possible and we will keep people updated as the work progresses.
“We recently switched on the overhead electronic signs on the second section (J26 – 27) and hard shoulder running trials are due to get underway on this section by mid-July.
“More details will be announced in the near future. If the trials are completed successfully, we anticipate this section becoming fully operational as a managed motorway by the beginning of August.
“We expect that the third section, from Brighouse to Chain Bar which features permanent four-lane running in both directions and therefore does not require the same level of technology testing and trials will go live very soon after this, in early August.”
Work continuing elsewhere on the scheme includes resurfacing, installation of traffic monitoring equipment, landscaping, signing, barrier and bridge waterproofing works.
If you have any queries about the project you can contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or calling 0300 123 5000.
FACTFILE
The hard shoulder will be a fourth lane between Junction 25 Brighouse and 26 Chain Bar in both directions 24 hours a day
The hard shoulder will be a fourth lane at peak times between junctions 28 and 30, Tingley and Rothwell.
Electronic speed limit signs have been installed to control traffic at busy times
Emergency refuge areas have been built at the side of the motorway in case of problems
