The Highways Agency is reminding drivers to take extra care as they drive through the M1 widening works between Junction 25 at Sandiacre and Junction 28 at Pinxton as further changes are made to the road layout.
The M1 widening scheme, once completed, will improve safety and help make journeys more reliable by increasing capacity and reducing congestion.
From Monday, 5 January 2009, narrow lanes and a 50mph temporary speed limit will be extended in stages, from between Junction 26 and Junction 27 to the entire 14 mile section.
The changes will be made in phases as follows, with all work taking place overnight only:
* From Monday 5 to Friday 9 January narrow lanes on both carriageways will be extended to Junction 28 with temporary metal barriers.
* From Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 January some lengths of temporary metal safety barrier between Junctions 26 and 27 will be removed and replaced with cones on both carriageways. Some areas of temporary hard shoulder will be provided.
* From Thursday 15 to Thursday 29 January narrow lanes on the northbound carriageway will be extended southwards to Junction 25, with the addition of temporary metal barriers.
All work to alter the traffic management will take place overnight between 9pm and 5am, when traffic flows are lightest, to limit any delays to the travelling public. It will involve lane closures and some slip road closures.
Highways Agency project leader Paul Tully said:
“Over the coming few weeks drivers will notice a number of changes to the road layout. During the various stages of traffic management being removed and introduced elsewhere we advise drivers to be aware of those changes, allow extra time for their journey, take care when travelling through the works and obey all signs.
“Although these changes will affect those who use the motorway on a regular basis at night, delays should not be too long on any one night.”