M23: Junction 9 at Gatwick - dedicated lane for northbound traffic
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 18 February 2010
Drivers heading away from Gatwick Airport towards the M23 will benefit from an extra lane to reduce congestion from next month.
The Highways Agency will be creating a new segregated left-turn lane for vehicles travelling from junction 9a at Gatwick Airport to junction 9 then joining the northbound M23. Work will begin on 21 February, lasting five weeks, and the junction will be closed overnight on Monday 22 February, with a diversion route in place.
The new lane will ease traffic levels towards the roundabout at junction 9 where the options are to travel south further into Sussex, or north towards the M25 and the capital.
As well as aiding road users leaving Gatwick, the change will help traffic from the Horley and Hookwood areas joining the M23.
Peter Phillips, Highways Agency Route Manager for West Sussex, said:
"The new lane will help improve traffic flow around Gatwick Airport and the surrounding area. Whilst the overnight closures at junction 9 are in place, we would ask road users to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys."
In order for the new lane to be created, the existing two-lane carriageway will be widened to three lanes on the roundabout. New signs and road markings showing the new road layout will be put in place. Work will also be carried out on the drainage system and the safety barrier at the same time.
A full overnight closure of junction 9 will take place between 8pm and 6am on Monday 22 February, with a fully-signed diversion, taking in junction 10 of the M23, west to the Tushmore roundabout on the A2011 Crawley Avenue, then north along the A23 London Road through Lowfield Heath to the Longbridge roundabout at Horley, where road users needing Gatwick can turn around to come back along London Road and join Airport Way.
For the safety of road users, other than during the full overnight closures, there will be narrow lanes 24 hours a day at the junction throughout the work. For the duration of the scheme, northbound M23 road users will not be able to use junction 9 to return onto the southbound carriageway. They will be diverted to the westbound junction 9a to return on the eastbound carriageway to then travel southbound.
From Monday 22 March for one week, junction 9 will be closed between 8pm and 6am to allow work to take place. The same diversion route of using junction 10 will apply.
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
- From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the Internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk. To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
- From the Internet at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice-activated phone service on 0870 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).
3. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time (Calls to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).
Safety at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
- Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety.
- Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching.
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- Be alert for works' traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front.
- Observe all signs - they are there to help you.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Peter O'Connor
Phone: 01306 878110
Mobile: 07876 577687
peter.o'connor@highways.gsi.gov.uk
