Motorists face months of M1 roadworks

DRIVERS using Tinsley viaduct will be expected to use the hard shoulder for six months while roadworks are carried out.

The Highways Agency started work this week safety improvements on the viaduct’s upper deck, which carries the M1 between junction 34 north and junction 34 south at Meadowhall.

Work to replace the existing central reservation safety barrier with a lightweight, high containment steel barrier will go on until September.

Highways Agency project manager, Tim Calvert, said: “The new barriers will improve safety on the M1 in South Yorkshire.

“This is a specialist engineering scheme which will take six months to complete. The new barrier units need to precisely positioned on the viaduct and only a small number of sections can be positioned at a time.

“In addition, essential central reservation concrete repairs, waterproofing and drainage renewal work will also be carried out.

“During the work we advise road users to plan their journeys to avoid delays.

“Safety is our top priority and for the safety of road users and road workers we encourage all drivers to drive carefully through the roadworks, keeping within the speed limit, and concentrating on the road ahead.”

During the work two lanes of standard width will be maintained over the viaduct and the Highways Agency said delays should be only slight.

Lane two will be closed and drivers will use the hard shoulder and lane one.

A free vehicle recovery service will be in place throughout the scheme and a 50mph speed limit, enforced by speed cameras, will be in operation until the end of the works.