The confusing road junction that has been driving motorists crazy

A motorway junction in Yorkshire has been driving people round the bend for years – but no fix is on the horizon.

On the M62, you can leave the motorway at every single junction in both directions – but not at this one.

If you’re travelling west, you can’t legally exit the M62 at Junction 23, near Huddersfield. Nor can you join the M62 westbound from Junction 23. This error is not due to poor engineering but instead due to financial prudence, reports YorkshireLive.

The reason drivers can’t exit at this junction is because of the A643 Lindley Moor Road and a housing estate which block the exit. These were both present before this part of the motorway was built in the 1960s.

In order to build the exit to the motorway, drastic changes would have to be made.

The housing estate would have to be demolished which would need a compulsory purchase order. Residents would also be displaced from their homes which would be unethical, legally complex, time consuming and costly.

Not only this but the land is also located on steeply sloping terrain – and this is another reason why shifting the M62 north isn’t feasible. 

And Constructing a new road isn’t justified as entry to the eastbound M62 is less than two miles away at junction 24.

Highways England has been consulted many times on the issue.

A spokesperson said: “Lindley Moor Road is very close to the M62 so there is no room to accommodate an additional off-slip within the existing highway layout.

“To facilitate this proposal would require either re-aligning the M62 to the north or demolishing part of the Mount housing estate to move Lindley Moor Road to the south.

“Clearly, neither of these suggestions would be either economical or easy to implement.”

This part of the motorway is a key connecting point in Yorkshire and around the Hudderfield area.

The M62 motorway recently closed for two weekends in September due to works being carried out. National Rail replaced the railway bridge over the M62 meaning the motorway had to be shut. 

It was the first time in recent memory that the M62, which carries around 120,000 vehicles a day, was closed for a whole weekend or other extended period for the planned work.