£7.5m motorway improvements to begin this month
One of Yorkshire’s busiest motorways is set to get a makeover as part of a multi-million pound scheme to improve safety, journeys and support economic growth in the region.
Highways England is investing more than £7.5m over the next 12 months on the M1 between the M18 and Meadowhall (junctions 32 and 34). This will include resurfacing, bridge and lighting improvements as well as barrier and drainage work, to enhance safety for the 110,000 drivers who use this route every day.
Highways England programme lead Mark Ramsden said: “We are carrying out £80m of maintenance improvements in Yorkshire and the Humber over this financial year and that includes investing more than £7.5 million on this section of the M1.
“Work is due to start this month on the bridges over the River Rother and Long Lane. This has been brought forward so we can continue to provide drivers with smoother and safer journeys along the M1 after a number of potholes in this area. We are working closely with Rotherham and Sheffield councils to minimise any impact.
“We have just completed work on the southbound carriageway of the lower deck of Tinsley Viaduct and work has now started on the middle maintenance lane.
“There are a further five schemes planned over the next 12 months. This includes work to the upper deck of the iconic Tinsley Viaduct planned for later this year and upgrading the lighting around this busy junction in the new year.”
Highways England is replacing 40,650 sq m of road surface. Replacement surface has already been laid down at Tinsley Viaduct and will also be put in place between M1 junction 36 and Westwood roundabout, and on some of the M1 slip roads at junction 34 and junction 35a.
In the New Year, Highways England will replace 34 street lights and 44 sign lights with modern efficient LED lighting. The new lighting is 53% more efficient, saving the equivalent energy of powering the homes of 20,000 people. It can be remotely controlled and requires minimum maintenance, which means less disruption for drivers.
And Highways England is replacing 21,200 square metres of waterproofing on bridges along the M1. This layer protects the concrete base from the elements which could cause damage to the bridge structure or potholes in the road surface. Work on the northbound Long Lane and River Rother bridges will begin on Friday 9 August.
The improvements will be carried out over two weekends. Between 6am and 10pm on Saturday and 8am and 10pm on Sunday, the northbound M1 will be reduced to two narrow lanes. The northbound carriageway will be fully closed overnight between 9.30pm and 6am on Friday evening, 10pm until 8am on Saturday evening and between 10pm and 5am on Sunday evening.
A reduced speed limit will be in place for around half a mile near junction 33. Signed diversions will be in place during the closures. The same arrangements will be in place the following weekend starting on Friday 16 August.
Further details about each improvement will be provided closer to work starting on site.
