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M18 safety improvement schemes progressing well

Government Communications (NDS)

11 February 2011

The installation of traffic signal at the A1(M) / M18 interchange is being carried out in four phases and will reduce congestion and improve safety at this busy junction.Phase one of the work on the A1M southbound exit slip road was completed in January. Phase two of the work is taking place the A1M southbound exit slip road and M18 northbound entry slip roads along with the north east section of the roundabout. To complete this phase of the work, closures of the slip roads and this section of roundabout will be required on 21 and 22 February. Lane closures will be in place for the remainder of that week.Phase three of the works began this week with closures on the M18 southbound exit and entry slip roads, A1M northbound exit and southbound entry slip roads and the southern half of the roundabout. These closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am until 20 February.To complete the traffic signal works the M18 northbound exit and entry slip roads, A1M northbound entry and southbound exit slip roads and the northern half of the roundabout will be closed overnight between 27 February and 6 March. The barrier scheme is also being carried out in four phases and involves replacing the steel central reserve barrier with a safer, concrete barrier and improving drainage on an 8.8 mile (14km) stretch of the motorway between Junction 2 and Waterton Bridge (north of Junction 4).The first phase, between Warning Tongue Lane bridge (north of Junction 3) and Junction 4, was completed in November. The second phase of the scheme, between Junction 3 and Warning Tongue Lane bridge, was started in mid-October was completed in January. The final two phases of the scheme began in December. Work between Junction 2 (Wadworth Interchange) and Junction 3, will be completed by 15 March. Work between Junction 4 and Waterton Bridge will be completed by the end of March.In order to minimise any disruption to road users, two lanes of traffic are maintained during the day. The motorway is reduced to one lane in each direction overnight whilst works in the central reservation are carried out. A 50mph speed limit is in place 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of road users and workers.Highways Agency project manager, Andrew Jennings, said: “The barrier replacement and traffic signal scheme will reduce congestion and improve safety on the M18 in South Yorkshire. Drivers are advised to approach these roadworks with care and allow extra time for their journeys."End