Highways England fast tracks major motorway interchange closure in Yorkshire

Reconstruction of bridge joints on the Lofthouse interchange between the M1 and M62 near Leeds has been brought forward to allow it to be delivered during lower traffic volumes resulting from the Covid-19 lockdown.

The interchange at junction 42 of the M1 and junction 29 of the M62 will close for eight weeks later this month to allow a £3.6M package of work to be undertaken on the joints on the roundabout’s four bridges.

The structure was opened in 1970 and carries 45,000 vehicles a day providing a crucial link between Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and York but the bridge joints are now in need of repair and the decks also need to be re-waterproofed.

Highways England project manager Russel McLean said: “We understand completely that this work is going to have a large impact on drivers. We’ve looked at various options to complete this work and have spoken to local businesses and stakeholders to gather views. The best option we have is to close the roundabout for eight weeks. The alternative would be to carry out the work in separate sections but this would cause more disruption and require three, six-week closures.

“The roundabout has been experiencing problems with the bridge joints over the last few years. This scheme will allow us to carry out these essential repairs and do additional work to minimise the amount of disruption in future years.”

During the closure, which will start on 26 June, 20 bridge joints – five on each bridge structure – will be replaced.

Although the roundabout will be closed during the work, Highways England has said that the junction’s free flow link roads, which don’t require drivers to use the roundabout, will remain open and clearly signed diversion routes will be in place for all affected traffic.

Highways England also has plans to upgrade the junction to boost capacity, which was expected to start in 2021 with completion in 2025 but the public consultation process for the work, which was expected to start in spring 2018, has yet to get underway. The work was included in Highways England’s first Road Investment Strategy for delivery by 2025.

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