Progress made on M62 smart motorway

Highways England engineers continue to make considerable progress in the construction and rollout of the new smart motorways network for the M62.

Now entering one of the most critical phases of the ambitious project, engineers are working to install eight massive 'superspan gantries' that will span the full width of the carriageway in both directions and provide overhead electronic signage for travellers along the route in future.

The first of the new gantries is being installed this week (May 5th), with the installation of all eight of these impressive structures to take place over a six-week window.

Highways England project manager Stephen Hill said: "These new gantries are quite a bit lighter than the old gantries we removed earlier in the project. But they are still very large structures and are actually arriving on site in two parts.

"A 150-tonne mobile crane will then be used to join the two sections together, before the larger crane lifts the whole structure in place across the motorway."

He added that the whole process will be a massive undertaking and road users are asked to have patience in terms of potential hold-ups while this essential work is carried out.

Aiming for completion of the new smart motorway system by autumn next year, the introduction of these new gantries will move the project one step closer to fruition in the weeks ahead.

Posted in Public Sector News