No Pain, No Lane Gain

It's not often that local interests cross over into my work but current plans to widen the M60 between Jct 15 and 12 seem to be doing just that. Over the last few days I've been following the local backlash against the Highways Agency scheme which will see an extra lane introduced on the anticlockwise carriageway through one of the busiest and most congested sections of motorway in the North West. The concerns of local residents are, quite rightly, air and noise pollution, with a secondary concern about the 'accident blackspot' between Jct 13 and 12.

Firstly, these are genuine concerns and I applaud those who are campaigning on behalf of the residents. It's important that the resident's views are aired and not allowed to be ignored by the H.A. and those responsible for this scheme. However, it's also important that those same concerns are addressed, not merely pandered to. There are a number of ways to improve air quality, including planting and fencing, and of course, faster moving traffic will help dissipate emissions, and smoother flowing traffic means less braking and accelaration, which also means less emissions, so these improvements should improve air quality in the area as a matter of course. There are also ways of reducing noise pollution, such as noise reduction fencing and special surfacing and the improved junction layout should also reduce lane switching, which is the cause of most of the accidents in this location.

Any such measures will likely have a relatively minimal effect on the impact of the scheme, especially for those residents living closest to the motorway, as I understand the plans will virtually put the road in people's back gardens. However, the proposed improvements are essential to local, North West and national transportation and the decisions that are made now will directly influence the local and national economy well into the future. This scheme will go ahead because it is vital. The best that the residents can hope for, and what their representatives should be pressing for, is concessions that will minimise the impact of the work on the local area.