A public exhibition has been launched detailing plans to open up more of the hard shoulder on the M6 in a scheme that could cost up to £211 million.

Work on the project designed to ease congestion between junction eight and junction five for Castle Bromwich will begin in April 2012, and should be completed by spring 2014.

It comes after drivers were able to start using the hard shoulder during peak times between junction eight for the M5 and junction 10a for Essington earlier this year following work costing £150m.

The new nine-mile stretch of work will also link with a project already in place between junctions four and five and a 10-mile stretch of the M42 between junctions 3a and seven. Council officers are showcasing their plans in series of public exhibitions in the Black Country.

Senior project manager Paul Unwin said: “The main impact of this project is on journey times. Motorists can now rely on consistent journey times, which makes a massive difference not only to the general public but to the freight and delivery drivers who use the road.”

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