Drivers in the West Midlands are the first in the country to use the hard shoulder on a busy motorway as part of a pilot scheme to ease traffic congestion.
Motorists will now be directed to use the extra lane during peak times on an 11-mile stretch of the M42, south-east of Birmingham, through Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
The Active Traffic management initiative has been devised by the Highways Agency at a cost of £100million. It was introduced in preference to spending the £500million it would have cost to widen the motorway.
Now drivers on the motorway between Junction 3A at Hockley Heath, Warwickshire, and Junction 7 at Marston Green can use the lane when directed to do so during peak congestion times by electronic signs.
When the hard shoulder is in use, a 50mph speed limit will be applied to all lanes.
Roads minister Stephen Ladyman said: “This scheme is an important part of a package of measures the Highways Agency is using to cut congestion in the West Midlands.
“This flexible approach to opening and closing all motorway lanes, including the hard shoulder, to manage traffic shows how innovation and the latest technology can be used to cut congestion.”
Emergency refuge areas are provided behind the hard shoulder every 500 metres to ensure people whose vehicles have broken down have a safe area away from the traffic.
The Highways Agency has also worked closely with the emergency services on the scheme.
Individual lanes, including the hard shoulder, can be opened and closed by the Highways Agency by displaying a red X on the lane signals, to ensure safe emergency services access in the event of a major incident.
Today marks the beginning of a year-long trial on the road, which was chosen for its reputation as being one of the worst in the country for congestion.
The scheme, which monitors 125,000 vehicles a day, features 100 speed cameras, 275 CCTV sites, 54 gantries and hundreds of sensors.
By Richard Wyatt
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