30mph speed limit on M62 Ouse Bridge set to end by 'mid-Autumn'

Motorists in East Yorkshire should prepare for overnight closures on the M62 Ouse Bridge as the next phase of a complex joint replacement and repair scheme enters its final stage.

The project, managed by National Highways, involves switching traffic between junctions 36 (Goole) and 37 (Howden) into a new contraflow setup to allow work to continue on the westbound carriageway. This arrangement will see vehicles rerouted onto the eastbound side while the westbound undergoes repairs.

Additionally, a single lane on the westbound side will be accessible for traffic entering from the junction 37 entry slip road. To implement this safely, the M62 eastbound will be closed between junctions 36 and 37 on the nights of August 8, 9, 10, and 11.

The closures will continue with the westbound section between junctions 38 (North Cave) and 36 on the night of August 12. All closures will be in effect from 8 pm until 6 am the following morning.

Project Update and Revised Timeline

Following the completion of this phase, the entire joint replacement work, including the 24/7 traffic management measures such as contraflow and average speed cameras, is now expected to be completed by mid-Autumn 2024.

This marks a shift from the previous estimate of late summer this year. The revised timeline is attributed to several challenges that emerged during the project — a common occurrence with aging and complex infrastructure like Ouse Bridge.

The encountered issues include the need to address deteriorated waterproofing membranes, subsurface drainage complications, and the renewal of corroded structural reinforcement. None of these problems posed a risk to road users, but the decision was made to tackle them while crews were already on-site to prevent future reactive repairs and minimize disruption in the long term.

John Stebbing, Project Manager for National Highways, commented on the progress:

“We recognise the impact of this scheme on drivers, residents, and businesses, and our contractors have been working around the clock to complete the work. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to encounter issues when working with complex structures such as Ouse Bridge, especially ones designed and constructed around 50 years ago.

“Safety is paramount, and we need to make sure Ouse Bridge remains safe for road users and our engineers who are working on the scheme. This means lane closures will need to remain in place until the works are complete. Please be assured, we’re doing all we can to have the repairs finished as soon as possible and have the road fully reopened. We’re now approaching the final phase of the scheme, and we are extremely grateful to everyone for their patience while this has been finished.”

What to Expect Moving Forward

After the joint replacement is completed, there will still be minor tasks to wrap up, such as drainage works and the closing of central reserve crossovers. However, these will be managed with overnight or low-impact traffic measures to minimize inconvenience to road users. National Highways aims to complete these works swiftly, allowing the full reopening of Ouse Bridge without further delays.

Motorists are advised to stay informed about the latest updates and plan their journeys accordingly to avoid potential disruptions during the final phase of this extensive project.