National Highways is starting work on a series of enhancements on
more than 60 miles of dynamic hard shoulder motorway across the
country by upgrading the central reservation safety barriers.
The steel central reservation is being replaced with a more
modern, concrete barrier, which is even stronger than the metal
ones and helps to significantly reduce the risk of vehicles
crossing over from one carriageway to another.
The work is taking place on seven sections of dynamic hard
shoulder motorway - where the hard shoulder is used by traffic in
busy periods - and begins in the Midlands this month.
Work will start on the M6 between junctions 4 (Coleshill) and 5
(Castle Bromwich) on 14 March and is set to be completed by
autumn.
Paul Unwin, who is overseeing the upgrades for National Highways,
said:
Safety is our top priority. Upgrading these barriers will improve
journeys and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing
over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and
reducing the duration of incident-related congestion.
We will continue to deliver safety enhancements to these
motorways, which are among the busiest in the country and are
relied on by hundreds of thousands of people every day.
As announced in the Government response to the Transport
Committee recommendations, the conversion of DHS sections of
motorway to All Lane Running has been paused while alternative
ways to operate the dynamic hard shoulder are considered.
During the pause National Highways will be installing further
safety measures where DHS motorways are in operation including
upgrading the central reservation safety barrier.
As well as even being safer, the barriers are also virtually
maintenance free and will last twice as long as normal metal
barriers, with far less need for routine repairs.
To minimise disruption while work to upgrade the barrier is
carried out, three lanes will remain open to traffic. However,
lane four will be closed and lane three slightly narrowed to
protect the workforce carrying out the upgrade.
A 50mph speed limit will also be in place and occasional
overnight closures may be required.
Traffic restrictions will be removed for the 2022 Birmingham
Commonwealth Games.
The whole stretch of the M6 between junctions 4 and 10a
(Essington) is being upgraded in sections, beginning with the
section between junctions 4 and 5 on Monday.
The other stretches of DHS motorway to be upgraded are:
- M62 junctions 25-30 (Brighouse to Rothwell)
- M42 junctions 4 to 7 (Dorridge to the M6 Coleshill
Interchange)
- M1 junctions 10 to 13 (Luton Airport to Bedford)
- M4 junctions 19 to 20 and M5 junctions 16 to 17
This work, which will be completed by 2025, is part of National
Highways’ commitment to make England’s smart motorways even safer
and improve confidence in them.
To find out more about the upgrades visit the National
Highways Dynamic Hard Shoulder web page.
In addition, National Highways launched a new ‘Driving on
motorways’ hub on 25 January – it provides information about
the main features of smart motorways, and advice and guidance on
safer driving and what to do in an emergency.
