The M45 in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire will be closed in both directions this weekend to allow works to take place on the carriageways and verges.
Drainage and road surface studies will be undertaken, and resurfacing work and tree-felling will also take place during the closures.
Investigation work will start on Friday 12 March at 8pm and continue until 6am on Monday 15 March. This will require a full closure of both carriageways from junction 17 of the M1 to the junction with the A45, just south of Rugby. The closure is a distance of eight miles in each direction – the entire length of the M45 motorway.
Work will continue from Wednesday 16 March to Friday 18 March between 9.30am and 7pm each day with a lane one closure in each direction and a 50mph speed limit for the safety of all road workers and road users.
A further full eastbound closure will take place on Saturday 20 March between 10pm and 6am for carriageway resurfacing. The westbound carriageway will be closed for resurfacing between 10pm and 6am the following day.
Highways Agency route performance manager Graham Littlechild said: “We are carrying out the majority of this work at night and during weekends when traffic flows on the M45 are at their lightest, to minimise disruption to road users.
“However, some of our investigations and tree maintenance must be carried out during the day so we would advise motorists to plan their journey before setting out, using the Highways Agency website, listening to our DAB Traffic Radio station or by checking our new iPhone app.”
Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place during the work. Traffic travelling south on the M1 will be diverted via the A45 and traffic travelling north will use the M6.
Between now and the end of March there will be a significant increase in roadworks in the East Midlands, as we continue to invest in maintaining and improving the region’s motorways and major A roads. We will do as much work as we can overnight (generally between 8pm and 6am) when traffic flows are at a minimum, but some work has to take place during the day for safety reasons. We will minimise delays by keeping as many lanes open as possible while the work takes place. For up to date information about roadworks which may affect your journey visit www.highways.gov.uk/area7bbf
