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V i cold shouldered SOUTH YORKSHIRE hauliers say the Highways Agency
Page 12
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(I-IA) should widen the M1 properly instead of using part of the hard shoulder and central reservation.
They are responding to a proposal to keep costs down by creating fournarrower lanes on sections of the M1 by using part of the hard shoulder and central reservation. To cope with emergencies a 'hardened verge' would run on the outside of the motorway.
Motoring groups warn that it could become more difficult to remove broken-down vehicles from lanes but local hauliers are more concerned about the impact of congestion.
Stewart Balmforth of Balmforth Transport in Rotherham says: "Anybody using the M1 between junctions 32 and 39 regularly will know that it is a horrendous stretch. It's getting like the M25— a giant car park. They should widen it properly because I can't see bow creating four narrower lines will alleviate the situation."
Vincent Hardisty of Sheffieldbased Wharncliffe Transport says: "The section between Junctions 32 and 36 is horrendous at this time of year with car traffic trying to get to the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield.Four lanes would be okay as long as they left one inner lane maximum width for overtaking."
The HA says the hard shoulder and central reservation are being looked at because the government wants to cap the cost of improvements at £1.2bn; widening it properly would cost twice that amount.