Hard shoulder to be opened on M62 in West Yorkshire

Parts of the motorway in West Yorkshire will make use of the hard shoulder

A section of hard shoulder on one of the busiest stretches of motorway in West Yorkshire is to be opened up to traffic to ease congestion.

Plans by the Highways Agency include the hard shoulder being in permanent use in both directions between junctions 25 and 26 and "managed speed limits" between junctions 25 and 30.

Emergency refuges will be placed every 800m where the hard shoulder is in use.

Plans go on show at Cleckheaton library on Friday and Saturday.

Last October Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said the scheme would not be a victim of the public spending cuts.

But construction work between junction 25 for Brighouse and junction 30 for Rothwell was delayed last July while the government completed its review.

Now contractors will begin work which will include the implementation of 50mph speed restrictions and the start of ground works.

The hard shoulder would be closed between Junction 27 at Gildersome and Junction 28 at Tingley but three lanes will be kept in both directions, officials said.

Highways Agency officials said it was expected construction work would fully get under way in October and be due for completion in 2013-14.

David Pilsworth, of the Highways Agency, said: "This scheme will provide much needed additional capacity on the M62, and our experience elsewhere shows that 'managed motorways' deliver significant safety benefits and more reliable journey times."