M18 roadworks “will improve safety”

The Highways Agency will begin installing new technology between junction 3 of the M18 and the M1/M18 on Monday. (28)

The scheme is expected to take until next spring and will affect a 10.5-mile stretch, with the agency promising to carry out most of the work overnight.

Night-time lane closures, 24-hour hard shoulder closures and a 50mph speed restriction will be imposed.

This is one of 15 “pinch-point” schemes taking place across the Yorkshire and Humber to reduce congestion and improve safety.

Motorway incident detection technology and automated signalling (MIDAS) loops in the will be installed to monitor traffic flow and automatically set signs to warn drivers of slow moving traffic.

The Highways Agency said this information, which is also fed back to the Agency's regional control centre in Wakefield, would help protect the back of slow-moving traffic from rear-end collisions, reducing the number of accidents and associated delays, and improve safety and the flow of traffic.

Highways Agency service delivery team leader, Roger Wantling, said: “Once the scheme is complete, the extra technology in place will improve road safety and reduce congestion and delays.

“During the work, we advise drivers to check local traffic conditions and leave extra time for their journeys if necessary.

“Every effort will be made to ensure disruption to traffic and residents is kept to a minimum.”