M1 diversions as upgrade scheme continues

WORK has begun to install eight 30-tonne gantries across the M1 as part of the smart motorway project.

Contractors for Highways England are adding the 45 metre wide signs, which will display messages and speed limits.

The smart motorway scheme is aimed at tackling congestion and improving journey times by using the hard shoulder as an extra lane.

The work, between junctions 32 and 34, will take place at night and some lanes will be closed and traffic temporarily stopped as the gantries are lifted into place by a 200-tonne crane.

Highways England project manager Arun Sahni said: “The erection of a ‘superspan’ gantry is a big job that calls for overnight closures, but then they're very big structures.

“You really get a sense of their size when they are on the ground waiting to go up.

“While we have the closures in place for the six nights, we will also be carrying out other works in the area which included resurfacing of the entry slip road at junction 33.”

Diversions will be place via the A630, the A631 and M18 when the southbound carriageway is closed. 

Heavy goods vehicles can use either the M62 and the A1 or the M62 and M18. 

For more information and details of lane and carriageway closures visit www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m1-junctions-32-35a.