Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when road improvements started on the M1 southbound carriageway near Wakefield; when he expects those roadworks to be completed; from what time in the day those roadworks are operable and traffic is diverted from all three carriageways; and if he will make a statement.

The M1 Junctions 39 to 42 smart motorway scheme started with enabling works in August 2013, and is expected to be fully complete by Winter 2015/16.

Between the hours of 06:00 and 20:00 there are three narrow lanes available in each direction with a 50mph speed limit enforced for the safety of road workers and road users.

On the occasions when the overnight work requires a full carriageway closure, such as gantry erections and bridge deck waterproofing, the carriageway is closed from 20:00 on the night of the closure until 06:00 at the latest the following morning. Full carriageway closures are advertised two weeks in advance on the Highways Agency website, through local press notices and on motorway variable message signs in the vicinity of the closure.