Thursday, January 9, 2014

News: Work begins on J33

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The Highways Agency has begun work to widen the M1 junction 33 southbound exit slip road and roundabout near Rotherham.

The transport scheme is part of a national programme to remove bottlenecks and keep traffic moving on England's motorways and major A roads. The northern side of the roundabout will be widened from two lanes to four lanes and the A630 Rotherway leading to the M1 southbound entry slip road will be widened from three lanes to four.

The work, which will cost £2m, is due to be completed by April. It also includes replacing traffic signs and signals, street lights, safety barriers, and fencing; and installing new high friction surfacing, road markings, kerbing and drains.

It is hoped that the new improvements will help to reduce delays and help to prevent motorists queuing back on to the M1 southbound carriageway.

As well as a key route into the borough, the junction is an important piece of infrastructure for the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and wider Waverley development in Rotherham.

As the UK's premier advanced manufacturing technology park, the 100 acre site at Waverley is home to companies such as Rolls-Royce, The University of Sheffield, Boeing and Dormer Tools.

The AMP is part of Harworth Estates' £100m Waverley regeneration project on the site of the former Orgreave colliery. It is the biggest brownfield site development in South Yorkshire and covers 741 acres, an area bigger than Sheffield city centre.

Over a development phase of 20 years, the site will see the establishment of a new community of around 4,000 homes, shops, restaurants, schools, leisure facilities, health and community centres and parks. A launch ceremony has been held for the first houses on the site.

There are around 64 hectares (160 acres) of further commercial space available on the AMP and the commercial land adjacent to the Waverley site. The AMP is a key part of the Sheffield City Region's enterprise zone which aims to create a Modern Manufacturing and Technology Growth Area.

Roger Wantling, Service Delivery Team Leader at the Highways Agency, said: "Once this work is completed, it will reduce congestion and delays around the junction. The work should also improve overall road safety and contribute to a reduction in accidents in the area. The scheme will make journey times more reliable and improve access to surrounding areas. During the work we advise drivers to check local traffic conditions and leave extra time for their journeys."

Last year, Harworth Estates were provisionally awarded over £10m of government cash to support infrastructure that would enable around 1.2m sq ft of employment floorspace. It plans to use it to provide essential utility infrastructure such as new roads and a water and waste water pipe network at Waverley.

Harworth Estates website

Images: Harworth Estates

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