The boss behind a £150 million scheme to upgrade the M62 in West Yorkshire has insisted the roadworks are NOT the main cause of continual traffic misery, instead blaming poor vehicle maintenance and drivers running out of fuel for causing huge delays.

Highways Agency project manager David Pilsworth yesterday revealed crashes only accounted for 11 per cent of more than 300 incidents across the managed motorway works between junctions 25 at Brighouse and 30 at Rothwell last month, with 53 per cent resulting from mechanical failures, 12 per cent from people running out of fuel, 24 per cent for punctures, overheating and false alarms.

Speaking as the Highways Agency produced a YouTube film answering the most commonly asked questions about the scheme, which is due to be completed in October next year, Mr Pilsworth said he believed the number of incidents on the notorious stretch could be “significantly reduced” if drivers looked after their vehicles properly and took more care when driving in the roadworks area.

“We absolutely understand their frustration and the delays that have been caused, but we would like them to bear in mind it’s not always our fault,” Mr Pilsworth said.

“The travelling public have a role to play when travelling up and down our network for their own safety.”

But haulage firms in Bradford responded by accused the Highways Agency of “passing the buck”, claiming the accidents sparking lengthy delays in the roadworks area are costing their firms thousands of pounds a day.

 

Haulier Thomas Crompton, of Thomas Crompton Developments Limited, agreed that motorists should make sure their vehicles are roadworthy, but claimed his drivers were most often getting snared up in traffic after collisions.

“When there are breakdowns, things get moving pretty quickly. It’s when there are big accidents we can get held up for hours – they have the biggest impact.

“November was a particularly bad month on the motorway. I understand the roads have to be closed while the police investigate after crashes, but it costs us thousands of pounds a day.

“One thing that adds to it is the lanes are very narrow for HGVs – there is very little margin for error and drivers really need to concentrate when they’re driving through the roadworks.”

And Malcolm Bright, of Malcolm Bright and Sons haulage firm, agreed the works were affecting his business.

“Sometimes it can take two to three hours to get through particularly bad traffic.

“I think to say it’s down to motorists is passing the buck. It’s not just breakdowns that are causing delays.

“It’s very costly for us and every haulier. I think more of the works should be done in the night to minimise the impact.”

The Telegraph & Argus last month exclusively reported figures released under the Freedom of Information Act which showed that since construction work started on the scheme, there have been 138 collisions, 1,569 broken-down vehicles have been removed – an average of five per day – between junction 25 and junction 27 at Gildersome, eastbound and westbound between October 2011 and September 2012.

The project will involve opening up the hard shoulder as an extra running lane and to allow the ongoing work to take place, the normal width of lanes has been narrowed, no hard shoulder is available to vehicles and a 50mph limit is being enforced by a series of speed cameras.

Mr Pilsworth admitted November had been a “very challenging month” on the motorway, with some major incidents, but said recovery vehicles had reached stricken motorists within an average of 18 minutes and a plan was in place with the emergency services.

He also revealed there had only been seven injuries in the roadworks area last month – the lowest in the last five years – but believed this could be cut further.

Urging motorists to take more care on the road, he said: “If you’re driving too fast or too close and run into the back of someone, that is something that could have been prevented.

“If you’ve not put enough fuel in your car, which accounted for 12 per cent of incidents last month, then your car is not go to go anywhere and we don’t have three lanes, but two lanes.

“We will come and help you if you’re in a situation not of their making - we have 24/7 recovery and are watching from our CCTV control room.

“That’s really how the public can help us – by helping themselves.”

 To ask questions or give feedback, contact the Highways Agency Information Line on ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or call 0300 123 5000.

Twitter: @HannahP_TandA