M42 hard shoulder use is expanded

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Drivers on the M42 are now able to continue using the hard shoulder at junctions as part of a scheme to ease congestion.

The hard shoulder on the M42 is used at peak times and the speed limit is reduced to 50mph to ease congestion.

Motorists have been able to use the hard shoulder from junctions 3a to seven since 2006 but had to return to using three lanes at junctions.

The scheme will "shape" future motorway projects, the Highways Agency said.

It said using the hard shoulder had given drivers more reliable journey times and there had been a fall in accident numbers - from an average of 5.1 a month to 1.8 a month.

'Important step'

Following the success of the project, a seven-mile stretch of hard shoulder on the M6 was opened up earlier this month to ease congestion at busy times.

The government has said it may trial the scheme on other motorways.

Transport Minister Chris Mole said the new £3m "through junction running" initiative would maximise the benefits of drivers being able to use the hard shoulder at peak times.

"Through-junction running is just one of the measures taken by the (Highways) agency to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability and safety on our motorways," he said.

Derek Turner, director of network operations at the Highways Agency, said: "This is an important step in the delivery of the managed motorway programme.

"The results of this first scheme will shape future hard shoulder running schemes on our network, where junctions have similar traffic flows and will benefit from an additional lane through the junction."