Motorway Access Management at M62 Junction in Heywood

An innovative new scheme is being installed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flows at some of the busiest junctions on the motorway network in the North West, including M62 Junction 19 Eastbound, Heywood.

Motorway Access Management - traffic signals on motorway entry slip roads - will better regulate traffic joining the motorway and will be switched on at the Heywood junction on Monday 3 July.

During busy periods congestion often occurs near junctions when vehicles attempt to join the motorway while there is already heavy traffic on the motorway causing 'stop-start' driving conditions.

By introducing traffic signals on entry slip roads, traffic joining the motorway is better regulated smoothing out the traffic flow on the motorway

The system is used overseas in the Netherlands and USA and has been successfully trialled on the M6 north of Birmingham where it has been shown to reduce congestion and improve journey times on the motorway by up to 11 per cent.

Motorway access management works via sensors located on the carriageway, which monitor the traffic flow. Additional sensors on the slip road automatically turn off the system to prevent the build up of traffic on the local road network.

Highways Agency area manager Roy Wood said: "Motorway access management is one of the innovative techniques being introduced by the Highways Agency to deal with congestion and journey time reliability. The system will allow traffic to join the motorway more smoothly and safely.

"Motorists joining the motorway may have a few seconds delay at the slip road traffic lights, but there will be an overall benefit for all motorway users.

"To ensure the system works effectively, it is essential that fine tuning of the control software has to be carried out in the first week of operation. Motorists may experience some minor delays while this work is carried out."