Highways Agency

Pilot Case Study: M62 Liverpool to Hull

Route

The M62 between Liverpool and Hull is the country's vital east-west transport route in the north serving millions of people every day and providing a link with national and international transport networks. It is widely used by freight vehicles with critical distribution times between the ports and important markets along the route.

Study

Radical ideas for the future of the M62 motorway were put before the public by the Highways Agency in a month-long consultation exercise across Yorkshire and the North West during June 2000.

The M62 Route Management Strategy included the most far-reaching public consultation on the motorway route since it was completed in the late 1970s. 16 roadshows were held at various points between Hull and Liverpool and the information gathered will now be analysed and used as part of the process to formulate a 10-year plan for the route.

Although the strategy included actions already underway it also gave the Agency an opportunity to ask the public for its views on a number of more radical ideas which arose from previous interest group meetings. These included high occupancy vehicle lanes, designated lanes for lorries, traffic lights on entry slip roads and better integration with public transport.

Highways Agency Area Manager John Bagley said:

"The Route Management Strategy gave us the chance to examine all aspects of the M62, from who uses it and how they use it, to congestion pinch points and methods of dealing with them.

"The Highways Agency is already doing a lot to improve traffic flow and safety but we need to do more to improve the route by relieving congestion, improving safety and the environment, and making the route more integrated with other forms of transport. Public consultation is a vital part of that process.

"We have had some good feedback from the public. I think they were generally very pleased that we consulted them and appreciated that we have to do something if congestion is not to get worse. We are grateful that so many people took the trouble to give their comments."

At the roadshows the public was able to speak directly to Agency officials in addition to a telephone hotline to enable them to send their views to the Agency's teams in Leeds and Manchester. A special website was also created to allow more people to have their say.

Strategy

The Strategy is now being finalised, looking at ways to maintain traffic flow and travel speeds and improve journey times, taking on board the comments from the public. In particular it will look at the three main congestion spots along the route - around Leeds and Bradford, Greater Manchester and the entry into Hull.