M62 central reservation upgrade scrapped

M62 towards Littleborough

A planned scheme to install concrete central reservation barriers on the M62 has been scrapped.

The barrier upgrade had been planned between junction 20 at Thornham and junction 25 for Brighouse.

National Highways has confirmed the project – which would have seen 19 miles of steel replaced with concrete – has been cancelled. This section of the motorway is still a traditional motorway with hard shoulder, after a planned smart motorway conversion was paused in 2022.

Smart motorway designs were paused by government until a full five years’ worth of safety data becomes available for schemes introduced before 2020.

National Highways Project Sponsor Nick Wells said:  “The planned barrier upgrade on the M62 between junctions 20 and 25 has been cancelled after a further appraisal of the project.

 “Safety is our top priority and we will consider future options for this stretch of motorway in due course.”