M62 Smart Motorway ‘not at risk’, says Highways England

Smart motorway

Highways England says the smart motorway scheme for the M62 will go ahead, addressing the concerns of Council Leader Richard Farnell.

A spokesperson for Highways England said: “We are delivering the Government’s £15 billion investment in England’s motorways and major A roads as described in the Government’s Road Investment strategy – this is the biggest investment in strategic roads in a generation.

“There is no suggestion that the M62 J20 to J25 smart motorway scheme between Rochdale and Brighouse is at risk. The scheme, to tackle congestion and improve journey times, is currently in the early stages of development, and subject to statutory processes, work is planned to start in 2019/20.”

Councillor Farnell called for clarification after the Office of Road and Rail, the official regulator, indicated the smart motorway is one of 112 road improvement schemes across the country being assessed for future viability by Highways England.

At the time, Councillor Farnell said: “Rochdale’s future economic prosperity is reliant on excellent transport links. The motorway is getting more and more congested from Rochdale to Leeds, so it would be nonsense for the new smart motorway to stop at Junction 20 in Rochdale without going further east.

“This important project would provide us with improved connectivity east and west, making the borough an even more attractive place for businesses to invest in.

“I have written to the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to get some clear answers. A half-finished managed motorway, failing to fully connect Leeds and Manchester, would not be very smart. The sooner the mixed messages stop and this important work gets the green light, the better.”

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/108394/council-leader-seeks-answers-as-m62-road-scheme-under-threat

Back in April 2016 the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced the project would be accelerated as a ‘priority scheme’.

Work on the North West’s first smart motorway began in July 2014 and currently affects a 17-mile stretch of the M60 and M62 in Greater Manchester.

This initial £202 million project is due to be completed in autumn 2017.