M1 - M62
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Ordnance Survey map - Alternative aerial view
Where is it?
M1 junction 42 and M62 junction 29, the crossing point of two of the country's busiest motorways. It's not just traffic moving about locally either - the junction handles lots of traffic going between such distant points as Newcastle, Manchester and Sheffield, in surprising numbers, plus daily commuter traffic to and from Leeds.
What's wrong with it?
It's a bottleneck, forcing all the traffic from all directions that isn't going straight on to mingle on the roundabout. The only exception, thanks to several years of work by the Highways Agency and the Yorkshire Link company running the new bit of M1, is traffic between the M1 to the north and M62 to the west, which now has fast-access links tunneled under the original junction. This helps, though it's not enough. To make the junction truly unworthy of the roads it serves, there are peak-time traffic lights on the roundabout.
Why is it wrong?
One can only guess that whatever traffic surveys were carried out in the early 1960's were wrong. Presumably they assumed the M62 would be much quieter. The M1 was built here in about 1966, and provision was made for this junction (it may have been built ready for the coming of the M62, though it's hard to tell). When the M62 finally came in the 1970's it was all connected up, but by this time traffic levels were obviously higher. It reached the stage in the early 1990's where everything just stopped on most weekday mornings when the rush hour hit.
What would be better?
A full free-flowing junction would be nice, and isn't a total impossibility, nor is it something the Highways Agency would never consider doing. It is of course quite unlikely. The improvements that were made (by Yorkshire Link) were simply to increase capacity ready for the new M1 section and increased traffic that would follow it at this junction. There are now left-turn lanes on the roundabout, which means it's only there for three right-turn movements these days, but it's still not really enough. Another free-flow link from eastbound to southbound would be the next step.
Right to Reply
E-mail me with your comments.
Austin Madelaine writes:
What idiot designed this junction! Wherever two motorways meet there should always be a free flowing junction where possible. The M1 and M62 junction has lots of land nearby that could have been used. The M62 where it meets the M6 is a joy to swoop round.
James Fletcher responds:
Austin Madelaine's comments are particularly unjustified.
My father worked as a bridge designer and worked on the M62 when it was being built, and has worked on other road schemes since.
He said of the Stocksbridge bypass that came off an "-A" juction of the M1 that it should have been dual carriageway but that the politicians stopped it - there have been several fatal accidents. I am sure that the same short sightedness for this junction came from the Politicians NOT the designers - designers get "briefs" and not a "free-hand".
Ian finds some problems with the newer free-flowing sliproads:
I regularly use the Yorkshire link [new M1 section] to and from Manchester area. Off peak it is brilliant, you hardly need to change down and rarely need to brake.
The tunnel section M1(S) to M62(W) is fine but needs speed control lights in or after the tunnel. The the 50mph section under the M1 changes to 'National Speed Limit' giving one just enough time to accelerate to 70mph to join the westbound M62 crawling along at 15mph. Doh!
David Sharp finds something to celebrate:
I'm the proud owner of The National Trust Book of Bridges which lists this interchange in its gazetteer of UK bridges.
Built in 1966 by S. M. Lovell, the intersection features an "800-foot diameter roundabout carried on four bridges over the two motorways... supported on curved prestressed concrete piers with inclined precast props of crucifom section". So there you go, I always wanted to know that too. It also has a nice little photo, with a deserted M1, a westbound M62 still under construction and ending at this junction, with no eastbound motorway at all (presumably taken shortly after the M1 opening).
With thanks to William for information on this page.
