M6 motorists facing seven-mile detours

One of the busiest sections of the M6 motorway will be closed completely this weekend, forcing drivers to take a seven-mile detour.

Work is being done overnight to install overhead gantries between junctions 8 and 10 on the northbound side of the M6, which runs from West Bromwich to Walsall. Vehicles travelling from 10pm on Friday to 8am on Saturday and from 8pm on Saturday to 10am on Sunday will be sent from Junction 8 along the M5 and then through West Bromwich.

The detour route will take them along the A41 Black Country New Road to Moxley then the A4444 and A454 Black Country Route where they can rejoin the M6 at Junction 10 for Walsall and Wolverhampton.

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

Work is being done as part of a scheme to bring in variable speed limits and open up the hard shoulder to traffic during peak times.

The work is costing £150 million.

But it has caused anger for families living on Walsall's Beechdale estate.

Some people living near the M6 in streets such as Murdock Way say gantries for new signs, which are taller than their houses, were also put up without them being warned.

And others say the cutting back of trees has also led to an increase in rats.

The Highways Agency has since cut the size of some gantries after consultation with residents.

But Murdock Way resident Kay Holland, aged 48, said the noise was constant.

The mother of two said: "We know we've been fighting a losing battle.

"It's worse at this time of year because it's hot and we want to open the windows but the noise is there all the time. We've got two fans going and it's costing us money in electricity.

"We usually get a letter coming through telling us about overnight closures but we haven't had one this time."

The Highways Agency is also spending £2.6m on work to install traffic lights at the roundabout of the M54 motorway in Wolverhampton.