Essential maintenance at key motorway interchange
A key Yorkshire interchange at the centre of the M1 and M62 motorway network will undergo essential maintenance later this month.
Lofthouse Interchange, (M1 junction 42 / M62 junction 29) near Leeds, requires an eight-week closure to allow engineers to carry out a £3.6m project on the roundabout’s four bridges.
The structure opened in 1970 and carries 45,000 vehicles per day. It is a crucial intersection of the M1 and M62 motorways, which helps link cities including Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and York.
Closing the roundabout for the duration of the scheme will mean the work can be completed in the shortest time possible.
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 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.”
Engineers will replace the interchange’s 20 bridge joints, five on each bridge. These help the bridge move in a controlled way when traffic passes over it and during severe weather.
The bridges will also be re-waterproofed which will protect the structure and the roundabout will be resurfaced.
The work has been brought forward and is taking place over the summer months while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, so engineers can make the most of lower traffic volumes.
It will mean anyone wishing to travel in the following directions will need to follow a signposted diversion route:
- M1 northbound to M62 eastbound
- M62 eastbound to M1 southbound
- M62 westbound to M1 northbound
Diversions will take road users to the next junction on either the M1 or M62 and back to the Lofthouse Interchange where drivers can use the free-flowing link roads which remain open.
Work to close the roundabout will start on 26 June and all closures will be in place by 29 June. Further details of the scheme can be found at: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m1m62-lofthouse-bridge-work
