Warning for drivers breaching M60 road works

DRIVERS using the M60 and M56 in South Manchester are being warned they face fines and licence penalties if they ignore diversions and drive through roadworks; as a major improvement project around Cheadle gets into its stride.  Work on the £6.6m scheme started last month but Highways Agency road workers have already recorded several 'near misses' with drivers removing cones and deliberately driving into areas where they are working, The 4 month scheme is taking place along the M60 between Junctions 4 and 2 and the slip roads onto the A34; and drivers are being urged to respect slip road and carriageway closures and follow signed diversions.  As well as regular overnight closures of the slip roads onto the southbound A34 at Junction 3, there are also occasional full closures of the eastbound M56 Sharston Link and the anti-clockwise M60 itself.   The Highways Agency warned in 2011 that its contractors had boosted measures to identify and report offenders following problems with schemes along the M56 near Manchester Airport and the M60 near Ashton-under-Lyne in which several drivers were fined for breaching roadworks. And it has now revealed that 22 drivers were prosecuted for similar offences during work to improve access from the M6 to M62 earlier this year. Matt Sweeting, the Highways Agency's regional Service Delivery Manager, said:- "We are only a few weeks into this important improvement project but people have already been removing cones and driving through the roadworks to avoid using the signed diversions or alternative local routes. We have contractors working around the clock on this scheme. Some of the work is at the bottom of a bend on a slip road and drivers ignoring these closures cannot possibly know what they are heading into; whether that is a deep excavation, heavy plant or a team of road workers. Our road workers have a right to do their jobs in a safe environment. Drivers moving cones and driving into road works will be reported to the police. Drivers need to ask themselves if avoiding a diversion is worth risking a fine or the loss of their licence; or a serious accident.” Highways Agency research published last year showed that drivers are becoming more aware of their responsibility to keep road workers safe with 80% of drivers changing their approach at road works by slowing down and being more careful and attentive.  Between 2005 and 2010, nine road workers were killed and more seriously injured while working on England's motorways and major A roads as a direct result of accidents involving drivers travelling past or through works. Over the same period seven drivers and three passengers were reported to have been killed while driving past or through road works. Mr Sweeting said:- “We are talking about a minority of drivers but it only takes one incident to result in a serious injury or fatality. Traffic management is there to keep drivers and road workers apart; for everybody’s safety."  The project, meanwhile, is progressing well and is on target for completion in November.  The work involves turning a section of the hard shoulder on the anti-clockwise M60 into an extra running lane where it meets the M56 Sharston Link; improving safety and reducing congestion where drivers enter the M60 from the M56. Similar improvements are being delivered on the Junction 3 exit slip where it takes anti-clockwise and clockwise traffic onto the southbound A34 (Kingsway). A 3rd lane is being added to the slip road with signals being added where it meets the A34, bringing improvements for drivers leaving the M60 as well as those already on the A34 and heading away from Manchester.