£200m jam-buster plans for M6 to be unveiled

The first glimpse of £200million congestion-busting plans for the M6 through Staffordshire will be unveiled next week.

moreVariable speed limits will be introduced and the hard shoulder will be opened up to create a fourth lane between junction 10a at Cannock and junction 13 at Stafford.

The Highways Agency is to hold a public exhibition where members of the public will be able to see the plans for the first time.

Officials said the traffic-monitoring cameras would be put in place as part of the upgrade to the motorway between Cannock and Stafford.

Under the plans, the speed limit would be altered depending on volumes of traffic, with flashing signs on gantries telling drivers the maximum speed limit at any time. The hard shoulders would also be turned into additional lanes in both directions when traffic is heavy.

Construction of the managed motorway scheme is scheduled to start between January and March 2014 and is expected to be completed by spring 2015, the agency said. It will cost between £140m and £201m.

Large electronic signs will be mounted overhead on the verges to display information for road users including the motorway speed limit, which lanes are available, and advice about delays or incidents on the road.

The exhibition will be held over two days, on Friday, July 26, between 2pm and 8pm, and Saturday, July 27, between 10am and 4pm, at The Haling Dene Centre, in Cannock Road, Penkridge.

Agency spokesman Abbas Abdulla said: "The Highways Agency project team will be on hand to talk to members of the public about the scheme and the planned construction.

"The aim of the exhibitions is to inform road users and the local community about the changes to this section of the M6.

"They will be able to see what information the road signs will display, what the new managed motorway 'all lanes running' design will look like and how it will operate.

"This project will relieve congestion and smooth the flow of the traffic, improving safety and journey times. These benefits will also support economic development in the region."