The Highways Agency is responsible for the remainder of the motorway between junctions 1 and 10. The current Capital Programme includes the provision of £2.64m for the replacement of the M65 crash barriers. The current estimated cost of replacing the barriers is £4.3m. The scheme will require removal of the current street lighting from the central reservation as part of the works. This has been an integral part of the scheme from the outset.
In accordance with current design standards the replacement safety barrier will be of a concrete construction as this minimises the risk of cross-over accidents, reduces the need for repair and maintenance, thereby reducing the impact on the travelling public arising from lane closures. In addition the whole life cost for a concrete safety barrier is considerably lower than that of steel, as concrete has a design life double that of steel.
However the resultant impact of providing a concrete safety barrier in the central reserve means that the current street lights will need to be removed. The existing lighting associated with the slip roads and junctions is not affected by these proposals and will remain in place.
At the Executive overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet Committee the Tories and Liberals did not say a word and there were no objection to the proposal. However we have received some criticism in the local newspapers from MP Stevenson who has not said a word regarding the government switching off the lights further up the road.
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