Construction of UK's first High Occupancy Vehicle motorway lane underway
October 22, 2007
Work has begun on a new pilot scheme to build the first section of a dedicated high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on a UK motorway.
The 1.7 mile lane will link the southbound M606 near Bradford to the eastbound M62 towards Leeds, allowing vehicles heading towards Leeds with more than one occupant to bypass traffic at the busy Chain Bar junction.
It is estimated the £3.95 million pilot could reduce peak time journeys for those sharing their car at the site by around 8 minutes.
Studies show that up to 84% of vehicles using the junction currently have only one occupant.
Vehicles that will be allowed to use the HOV lane on the M606 are cars with two or more people in them (including when towing a trailer or caravan), coaches, buses and motorcycles. Minibuses and taxis can only use the lane when carrying passengers. Heavy goods vehicles will not be allowed to use the HOV lane.
The new lane will use the hard shoulders of the existing M606 and M62 eastbound slip road, which will be connected by a short stretch of new carriageway next to Chain Bar roundabout. New lay-by areas will be provided as emergency refuge for broken-down vehicles in place of the hard shoulder.
The new lane is expected to open in Spring 2008.
Transport Minister Tom Harris said, "Car sharing is good for drivers and good for the environment. This trial in West Yorkshire is just one of a series of innovative and imaginative measures being used on the motorway network to tackle congestion and make the best possible use of our available road space."
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