End in sight for work on M6 lanes

Narrow lanes along a busy section of the M6 will return to normal next month after almost 10 months, highways bosses predicted today.

All three lanes have been narrowed and speeds restricted to 50 miles per hour along the stretch in both directions between junctions 8 and 10, for Wednesbury and Walsall, since January this year slowing traffic and causing delays.

But the Highways Agency said today it was aiming for the lanes to be returned to normal at the end of the next month with temporary studs along the road to be taken up.

Drivers will also be able to travel at 60 miles per hour along parts of the route as work progresses next month.

The whole scheme is expected to be finished by Spring.

Speed restrictions of 50 miles per hour will also be in place for the M5 link to junction 8 of the M6 and the M54 link at junction 10a.

It forms part of the £150 million Managed Motorways scheme to see the hard shoulder opened to traffic during peak periods on the M6 to ease congestion.

A Highways Agency spokesman confirmed it was hoping to have the project completed by March.