IT was heralded as a congestion beater for the M62.
But the planned Managed Motorway Scheme has been put on hold due to financial problems.
It would have seen the Highways Agency open the hard shoulder between the eastbound junctions 25 and 30 in a bid to ease congestion.
Work was due to start in October and last until 2012, but the Highways Agency has just announced that Ministers have taken the decision to delay the start of the works.
The Department for Transport is said to be "uncertain" about the availability of funds.
A letter from the Highways Agency says: "The Government has identified deficit reduction as its primary objective for this Parliament and a Spending Review is currently underway.
"The M62 Junction 25 to 30 Managed Motorway Scheme was programmed to commence construction later in 2010.
"However, it has been decided that until the Government’s spending review has been concluded, the Department for Transport will not be in a position to identify those major infrastructure projects it can support, consistent with the Government’s objectives.
"In view of the uncertainty over the availability of funding for this scheme, Ministers have taken the decision to delay the start of works."
It adds that it could be later this year before a way forward for the scheme is clear.
The managed motorway scheme was chosen ahead of the costly £500m extra lane idea between Brighouse and Rothwell.
It would have seen a carefully managed ‘running’ hard shoulder with a permanent running hard shoulder between junctions 25 and 26 and a periodic running hard shoulder between junctions 26 and 30 open during busy times.
Emergency refuge bays would be built at 800m intervals along the hard shoulder for breakdowns and other emergencies.
It is hoped the scheme would have reduced stop-start traffic flows and decrease emission and fuel consumption by 10% and 4% respectively.
