New style roadworks ‘cut disruption’ for drivers

Highways England has changed the way it is working on two motorway upgrades - cutting the length of time the roadworks will be running.

Instead of drivers using both carriageways, while the upgrades take place around them, the company has introduced contraflows.

Drivers still go through the roadworks at the same speed but the contraflows create larger construction areas at the side of the motorway enabling more work to be safely carried out in one shift, speeding up the project.

The approach has been in use on the M6 between Stafford and Stoke for several weeks and is now being introduced on the M62 near Warrington.

Highways England smart motorways programme manager for the North West, Mike Bull, said: “We appreciate people's patience as we carry out these important motorway upgrades.

“We are always reviewing how we carry out major upgrades so we can minimise disruption as much as possible for drivers using our roads and people living near them.

“We are delighted to be able to complete these upgrades more quickly, and with fewer closures, thanks to the introduction of these contraflows. This is all part of our work to ultimately improve journeys in this area by adding extra capacity and technology to the motorway.”

A major motorway upgrade will require up to 200 full motorway closures to complete construction work. However, by using a contraflow, the number of full closures reduces to an average of 60.

Contraflows allow contractors to carry out bigger works, normally carried out overnight, during the day. There is more space at the verge to work and vehicles can pass each other without having to wait until another team has finished, says Highways England.

Works could include the construction of gantry bases, emergency refuge areas, surfacing and drainage work and the installation of gantries and barriers.

Temporary barriers separate the contraflow traffic on the opposite carriageway.

The contraflow on the M6, between junctions 14 (Stafford) and 15 (Stoke), has seen one lane of the northbound traffic moved onto the opposite carriageway.

Work began on Sunday (April 7) on a phased introduction of the contraflow on the M62 between junctions 11 (Birchwood) and 12 (Eccles Interchange) with a series of overnight closures.

The work, due to be finished by the weekend, will see two lanes running on the eastbound carriageway and the contraflow lane on the westbound carriageway.

On the eastbound, lane one will take traffic onto M60 (N), the second lane will take traffic onto M60 (S&E) and M602, and the contraflow lane will be signed for the M602 only. This will be in place until late July.

Once works on the eastbound verge have finished, the contraflow will switch to the westbound carriageway and mirror the eastbound contraflow works.