Highways chiefs today said the closure of one of the busiest stretches of motorways in the country is vital for congestion-busting work.

A five-mile stretch of the M6 motorway will be closed overnight this weekend.

The northbound stretch between Junction 8 at Wednesbury and Junction 10 at Walsall will shut from 10pm on Friday until 8am on Saturday, and again from 10pm on Saturday to 10am on Sunday.

The southbound entry slip road at Junction 10 will also be closed on both nights.

Bosses at the Highways Agency said the closure was essential for work to continue on a £150 million congestion busting scheme which will open up the hard shoulder to traffic during rush hour, from next spring

Paul Unwin, Highways Agency project manager, said: “The closures are needed for painting, cabling and lighting works to the overhead gantries between Junctions 8 and 10 on the M6 northbound.

“The motorway will be closed between these junctions to ensure the safety of road users and to provide a safe working area for our workforce.

“At the same time we will also install vehicle detector loops within the carriageway surface. These loops, when activated, will monitor the flow of traffic and automatically set variable speed limits on the overhead gantries to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.”

Northbound M6 traffic wishing to continue beyond Junction 8 will have to follow the signed diversion   via the M5 to Junction 1 then the A41, A4444, and A454 to rejoin the M6 at Junction 10.

Traffic using the M5 northbound heading for the M6 northbound will follow the signed diversion to join the M6 southbound at junction 8, leaving at junction 7 onto the A34, A4148 and A454 to re-join the M6 at J unction 10.