Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why there are 50 miles per hour speed restrictions on substantial lengths of the M1 where there is limited repair activity taking place; and what is the estimated cost of congestion and pollution caused by such restrictions over the past 12 months.

Highways England’s primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of the travelling public and road workers. To keep traffic moving safely through works, and create as safe a working environment as possible, mandatory 50mph speed limits are put in place for the duration of the construction, whilst maintaining three running lanes during the daytime. Continually lifting and reinstating traffic management would extend the duration of the road works and add to costs.

In addition, a significant amount of work takes place off site and at night, to minimise the disruption that would otherwise occur.　 However, we do recognise that the length of roadworks on the M1 impacts on many drivers’ journeys and Highways England are looking at how they can use shorter lengths of roadworks on future schemes.

The cost of congestion and pollution effects of these roadworks for the past twelve months has not been quantified.