Smart Motorway works on the M27 are to end from next week after nearly four years.
National Highways have been upgrading a 15-mile stretch of the M27 between junctions 4 (M3 interchange) and 11 (Fareham) since March 2018.
Here is all you need to know:
When are the works set to be removed?
Well, sooner than you think.
Drivers can rejoice as the works are finally set to end, with removal of temporary measures to begin from tomorrow night.
National Highways workers will start to lift the traffic cones and barriers over several nights.
The road will then be fully open from 6am on Friday, February 18.
Will the speed limit change? And how many lanes will be open?
Yes, but not just yet.
National Highways says when all the traffic management is removed, the four lanes will be upped to 60mph speeds while new technology, including stopped vehicle detection, is undergoing its final tests.
But, once the final tests have been completed on stopped vehicle detection, the speed limit will be raised to up to 70mph when junctions 4 to 11 are fully open.
What is set to change?
It will definitely look like a different road.
Control room operators will be able to change the speed limit and display warning messages during incidents.
The motorway will also be four lanes wide too.
Aren’t there concerns with Smart Motorways?
On November 2 last year, the Transport Committee published the findings of its inquiry into the rollout and safety of smart motorways. The Government’s response was published on January 12.
National Highways is taking forward the Transport Committee’s recommendations. These include pausing the roll-out of new all lane running motorways, which are yet to start construction, until five years of safety and economic data is available for those sections introduced before 2020. This will allow an informed decision to be made on next steps.
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Schemes already in construction, of which the M27 is one, are being completed, given they are all over 50% complete, and leaving traffic management in place for the duration of the pause would lead to significant disruption for road users.
‘Making good progress’
National Highways smart motorways programme director David Bray said:
“We are making good progress on completing the upgraded M27 Southampton and Fareham and we are grateful for people’s continued patience through our roadworks.
“From 12 February, we are starting to remove the temporary cones and barriers on this stretch of the motorway to open four lanes of traffic.
“While it may appear fully open, this stretch of motorway will continue to have a lower speed limit in place – which allows us to complete and test the technology, including the stopped vehicle detection system, before it goes live and the scheme is opened. Roadworks must be removed to allow full testing to be completed.
“In the meantime, drivers using the M27 can be reassured that the motorway already has multiple safety features in place while this testing is carried out. This includes 142 CCTV cameras; a dedicated free recovery service with a fleet of 10 vehicles, and the ability to use technology to vary the speed limit and to close lanes using a Red X.”
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