Smart motorway plan for M1 to cost £120m

Views sought on extending motorway scheme

A SMART motorway could be introduced to a stretch of the M1 in the county.

Highways England has set out a scheme to extend its ‘Smart Motorway’ project between junction 23a, at Castle Donington, and junction 25, the turn off for Derby.

Traffic chiefs are consulting drivers on plan which would cost around £120m.

Highways England has set out a scheme to extend its Smart Motorway project between junction 23a, at Castle Donington, and junction 25, the turn off for Derby.

Officials say they want to increase the capacity of that stretch of the motorway partly to help with an expected increase of traffic to and from an expanding East Midlands Airport.

Highways England wants to permanently convert the hard shoulder between Junctions 24 and 25 into a fourth lane of traffic.

The hard shoulders will be replaced with emergency refuge areas with roadside telephones.

Variable mandatory speed limits could be introduced, shown by new electronic signs on gantries.

Engineers say the new system would help them better manage traffic flows in an area often plagued with congestion.

They also say the scheme would “support the economy and facilitate economic growth within the region by providing much needed capacity on the motorway and reducing the cost of economic delay to commuters and business traffic”.

If the scheme goes ahead there will be substantial roadworks to make the changes, which could result in disruption.

Nick Robinson, assistant project manager, said: “As part of the improvements, variable mandatory speed limits will be used to manage traffic speeds and help reduce congestion, while enabling safe operation of the motorway.

“In total we will be upgrading 7.5 miles, which is expected to begin main construction in early 2017 and complete in late 2018.

“The M1 is a strategic route that carries high volumes of heavy goods and other vehicles.

“Drivers currently experience congestion and unreliable journey times at busy periods and traffic is predicted to grow, particularly with the growth expected at East Midlands Airport.

“We would like to encourage any organisations, businesses or individuals affected by these proposals to make contact with us and communicate their views.”

Highways England is asking people for their comments on the plan, particularly the introduction of variable speed limits.

For more information about the scheme, and to have your say, see the Highways England website.