Transport Insights

It’s not clear whether National Highways is any closer to solving the drainage defect that has compromised the new concrete central barrier on the M1 between junctions 12 and 13.

The problem first emerged in January and the roadworks, which were officially scheduled to finish this week, have been extended for at least another week.

The story appears to be the same as when the BBC reported it two weeks ago.

Image: Tony Fisher/BBC

National Highways told me today that the barrier supports have been weakened by the drainage defect and that the hard shoulder remains open as a live lane to maintain three lanes open in both directions, with reduced speed limits for safety reasons.

A spokesperson said:

Our engineers have been working hard to identify the cause of a drainage defect in the central reservation. We continue to assess the situation and are planning the repairs needed. We would like to thank drivers for their continued patience.

Meanwhile, an answer from transport minister Lilian Greenwood to a parliamentary question from shadow transport secretary Richard Holden highlights that there are stretches of the strategic road network with wire rope barrier of unknown age:

National Highways has approximately 143 miles of wire rope safety barrier on its network. For context, the total length of Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS) on National Highways’ network is approximately 6462 miles, of which wire rope safety barrier is one type. National Highways does not hold the data on when all wire rope safety barriers were installed.