Britian to Allow Traffic in Hard Shoulder

PirateShampoo

'Extra lane' for busiest roads

Hundreds of miles of British motorway will have their hard shoulders turned into extra lanes to relieve traffic congestion. Six stretches will get the work, including the M1 near Sheffield, the M6 south of Birmingham, the M4/M5 interchange, and the M60 and M62 near Manchester.

It comes after successful trials on the M42 near Birmingham, and also on the M1 and M6. The Department for Transport (DfT) claims that the M42 trial reduced accidents and improved traffic flow.

As such, it has pledged £2bn to private contractors to 'upgrade' more hard shoulders. The work ensures they can be opened easily when needed and the traffic can be managed. During quieter periods they'll return to normal use.

The contracts for the work are yet to be awarded, but four companies are in the frame to get the go-ahead, with work to start immediately. Despite the seemingly huge expense, converting hard shoulders is quicker and more cost-effective than widening the motorways.

Once completed, the DfT will commission yet more work after pledging that 340 miles of hard shoulder will be converted. That phase will include sections of the M25, the M4 close to London, the M1 in Yorkshire and the A1(M). In areas where the hard shoulder is used as a 'running lane' the speed limit is reduced to 60mph.

Now thats forward thinking, now if only the RSA can the same sense when it comes to certian Bus Lanes.



Source http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/18022010/36/extra-lane-busiest-roads-0.html

roosterman71

Is it true that motorway standard roads in Ireland have to have hard shoulders?

L1011

roosterman71 wrote: »

Is it true that motorway standard roads in Ireland have to have hard shoulders?

No, absolutely not.

There is a huge section with none (The Port Tunnel) as well as many other breaches (M1 Estuary bridge, some on the M18, M7 Nenagh Bypass, etc).