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.