Drivers face fresh motorway misery next week with the closure of a stretch of the M6 for three consecutive nights – as transport bosses claim the roadworks are boosting the economy.

The carriageway was shut between Junctions 10 and 11 around Wolverhampton and Walsall from 10pm last night to 8am today causing severe disruptions.

The northbound M6 between Junctions 4 and 6 will shut between 10pm and 6am from Monday to Wednesday for carriageway repairs and installation of traffic sensors.

The work comes at it was revealed that scores of roadwork schemes in the West Midlands have been brought forward to this financial year as part of the Government’s plan to spend its way out of recession.

Critics today said drivers would face unnecessary delays. They said the works served only to worsen disruption at blackspots such as the £12m Burnt Tree Island on the on the Sandwell and Dudley border.

Colin Leighfield, chairman of the transport policy group on the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, called the move “disgraceful”. Chris Kelly, who runs truck dealership Keltruck, said: “It is breathtaking to call this a fiscal stimulus when it just means that more people will be sat in traffic jams where they will waste fuel and money.”

But Transport minister Chris Mole said: “We are committed to bringing forward investment to help stimulate the economy.”

By Dan Wainwright and Colin Drury