Highways Agency
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Demolition of Tinsley Cooling Towers - drivers advised to plan their journeys for M1 motorway closure in South Yorkshire

Demolition of Tinsley Cooling Towers - drivers advised to plan their journeys for M1 motorway closure in South Yorkshire

HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (HA39-08) issued by The Government News Network on 20 August 2008

Saturday 23/Sunday 24 August from midnight into Sunday

Note to media: Arthur Ashburner from the Highways Agency is available for interview about the traffic management arrangements for the demolition. Please contact Eleanor Harte at COI News and PR on 0113 341 3181 to arrange. Out of hours call the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443

The Highways Agency is advising drivers to plan their journeys and follow the clearly signed diversion routes when part of the M1 motorway is fully closed in South Yorkshire to allow for the safe demolition of the Tinsley cooling towers.

The motorway will be closed from around midnight on Saturday 23 / Sunday 24 August between junctions 32 and 35, to allow the redundant towers to be brought down safely in a controlled explosion. It is expected that the motorway will remain closed for most of Bank Holiday Sunday.

The A631 Tinsley Viaduct lower deck between, and including, the Tinsley and Meadowhall roundabouts will also be closed, as will a number of local roads in the area.

During the closure, clearly-signed diversion routes will be in place for motorway traffic:
* Long-distance northbound traffic will leave the M1 at Junction 32, join the M18 northbound and the M62 westbound, and rejoin the M1 at Junction 42, or access the local road network from the M18.
* Long-distance southbound traffic will leave the M1 at Junction 42, join the M62 eastbound and the M18 southbound, and rejoin the M1 at Junction 32, or access the local road network from the M18.
* Northbound local traffic will be able to access Junction 33 of the M1 by following a signed diversion route from the M1 at Junction 32 via the M18 Junction 1, and then via the A630 West Bawtry Road and the A629 New Wortley Road, to join the M1 northbound at Junction 35.
* Southbound local traffic should follow the signed diversion route from the M1 Junction 35 via the A629 Upper Wortley Road, the A630 Centenary Way, West Bawtry Road and the A630 Rotherway, to join the M1 at Junction 33.
* Stretches of the M1 immediately to the north and south of Tinsley Viaduct will reopen as soon as possible after demolition, once checks on the structure have been carried out. This will enable local traffic to be diverted between the Tinsley Viaduct northern and southern roundabouts at Junction 34 via diversion routes on the A6109 Meadowhall Road, Meadowhall Way and the A6178 Sheffield Road on the Sheffield (west) side of the viaduct. To the east of the viaduct, (Rotherham side) traffic will be diverted via the A6109 Meadowbank Road, A629 New Wortley Road, A630 Centenary Way and A6178 Sheffield Road.

These diversions are being implemented in order to limit any delays to road-users. Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible, but for essential travel they should allow extra time for their journeys.

Up-to-date traffic information on the closure will be available on roadside electronic message signs, the Highways Agency's website at http://www.highways.gov.uk, by tuning in to Traffic Radio which is available on DAB digital and online at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk, or by listening to travel bulletins on local radio stations.

Arthur Ashburner, Divisional Director at the Highways Agency, said:

"This demolition is a unique situation and as far as we are aware, nowhere else in the world has anyone sought to bring down similar structures that sit so close to a major highway viaduct.

"Our priority is for the safety of road users and, given the close proximity of the towers to the southbound carriageway of the M1, these closures are essential.

"In order to limit any delays, the demolition is being done overnight on a Bank Holiday Sunday, when traffic levels are at their lowest. Nevertheless, we would advise drivers to avoid the area if at all possible, but if travel is essential, they should allow plenty of extra time for their journeys and follow the signed diversion routes from the M1.

"Once the demolition has taken place, we will carry out a series of checks to ensure that there has been no damage to the viaduct, which in itself may take several hours. We will re-open the road only when we are entirely satisfied that it is safe to do so.

"Throughout the closure, the Highways Agency will ensure that road users across the network are kept informed of the latest developments, and the expected time of re-opening."

The decision to close the M1 motorway was made following extensive discussions with E.ON, who own the towers, and consultations with South Yorkshire Police, local authorities and other agencies.

Local authorities are responsible for the closure of local routes. Information on these closures is available from http://www.sheffield.gov.uk, http://www.rotherham.gov.uk, and http://www.meadowhall.co.uk.

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. E.ON announced on 12 August 2008 that it will bring down the redundant Tinsley cooling towers over the August bank holiday weekend. The 250ft towers will be demolished in a controlled explosion in the early hours of Sunday 24 August. For media enquiries about the demolition, please contact Andrew Barrow in the E.ON press office on 024 7618 3677.

3. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).

4. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by COI News and PR, Yorkshire and the Humber
Enquiries to Sheila Perry on 0113 341 3180 or Eleanor Harte on 0113 341 3181.

Contact details on site at Tinsley over the weekend:
Midnight to 7am on Sunday August 24th - Sheila Perry (0774 0440 184)
7am to 2pm, Sunday August 24th - Jennifer Barker (0799 0771822)
Outside these hours, please contact the Highways Agency duty press officer on 0207 081 7443.

Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.

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