M1 smart motorway near Rotherham enters next stage
The next stage of a £112 million scheme to upgrade the M1 to a smart motorway from Rotherham to Stocksbridge will get underway this week.
From Wednesday 7 October, Highways England contractors will install narrow lanes along with a 50mph speed limit, which is already in place between junction 32 at Rotherham and junction 34 at Sheffield.
As part of the project, the latest technology is being installed to monitor traffic levels, provide traffic information to road users, and ease congestion by using variable speed limits on overhead message signs.
The hard shoulder is also being permanently converted into an extra lane between junction 32 at Rotherham and junction 35a at Stocksbridge to provide extra capacity.
Highways England’s senior project manager, Andy Kirk, said:
Work on the scheme is progressing well and we are now in a position to start the work between junctions 32 and 34. Narrow lanes are being introduced along the route and a 50mph speed limit is in place for the safety of workers and drivers.
When complete, road users will benefit from reduced congestion and more reliable journey times as a result of the hard shoulder being converted to an extra lane and variable mandatory speed limits being used to keep traffic moving.
Roadworks have already been lifted between junctions 30 and 31 along the M1 as part of another smart motorway scheme. And roadworks are due to be removed between junctions 29a and 30 later this month.
More details are available on the scheme website.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
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Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.