BMF: Concrete Benefit of the TT M6 Heysham Ferry Route
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 3:19 PM
In written confirmation received by the British Motorcyclists Federation, motorcyclists using the Heysham ferry to the Isle of Man are set to benefit from not only a new M6 to Heysham dual-carriageway link road, but also a safer journey thanks to the use of concrete barriers along the entire length of the new road’s central reservation.
The BMF, as a long campaigner for safer crash barriers for motorcyclists, was concerned that given the large numbers of motorcyclists expected to use this route, such a road should not have steel or wire-rope safety barriers but have instead the latest, motorway-standard, concrete barriers and this has now been confirmed by Lancashire County Council.
The new 4.8 km link road will run from junction 34 of the M6 directly to the existing A683 Lancaster and Morecambe Bypass.
Work is scheduled to start in the summer of 2013 and the BMF had asked that the recommendations of the BMF sponsored IHE (Institute of Highway Engineers) Guidelines for Motorcycling (see http://www.motorcycleguidelines.org.uk/home.htm ) be taken into account.
The BMF’s Regional Chairman for the North West, Dave Barton, said: “This is really good news. Over the years the BMF have been lobbying for concrete crash barriers as against steel post types and this goes to show that such lobbying really does work.”
Note 1:
The scheme is one of only nine local authority schemes to receive funding this year and aims to improve access for Heysham and Morecambe, improve traffic flows and reduce congestion.
The plans can be seen at:
www.lancashire.gov.uk/heyshamlink
Issued by Jeff Stone: t: 0121 709 1040 m: 07802 763094 e: jeffstone@bmf.co.uk
Details on this and other bmf activities can also be found on our web site: www.bmf.co.uk
