M6 speed limit to be slashed in Staffordshire - AGAIN
The speed limit on the M6 in Staffordshire will be slashed to 50mph for around two years to allow a £265 million congestion-busting scheme to take place.
Highways England has unveiled plans for a 'smart motorway' scheme between junctions 13, for Stafford, and 15, for Stoke-on-Trent.
It will be an extension of the £87.5 million project on the stretch between junctions 10a and 13, which finished in January.
Preliminary works will start in February, while the main scheme will get under way in early 2018.
Average speed cameras enforcing a 20mph reduction in the speed limit will be introduced.
The project involves converting the hard shoulder into a permanent fourth lane and installing new CCTV and electronic information signs on gantries to help manage traffic flow and incidents.
It also involves creating 20 emergency refuge areas along the 28km stretch, replacing the central motorway barrier and developing noise barriers in built up areas.
It is hoped the scheme will be finished by 2020, although the same works which took place between junctions 10a and 13 missed its deadline by several months.
The technology means control room staff can identify collisions and breakdowns within seconds.
Sensors under the road detect when traffic is suddenly slowing down and can automatically trigger a temporary reduced limit which is enforced by the information boards.
Highways England project manager Kenny Guihen, said: "It helps to prevent accidents and enables us to manage them better when they happen by encouraging people to slow down.
"It can also enforce reduced limits on the opposite carriageway because sometimes you get 'rubbernecking' with people driving passed looking at what has happened.
"It just makes everything safer. We have identified areas where these improvements are needed.
"We have done all around Birmingham which is a very important strategic area. There is a lot of investment with new housing and businesses in this area and this work enables this to be better realised. It is far cheaper than a traditional widening scheme and safer."
More than 450 drivers a month were fined for breaking the reduced limit between junctions 10a and 13 when it was in force.
The scheme was shown off to the public this weekend with dozens attending exhibitions in Stafford and Stoke.
Mr Guihen added: "A lot of people have been positive. We do get some complaints from people challenging the speed limits which are in place during construction, but they are in place for a reason.
"It is to reduce incidents while the lanes are narrowed. "
