M6 closing as congestion-busting work continues

The M6 will close overnight again this weekend, as highways bosses work on a £150 million scheme to tackle congestion.

Work is ongoing to widen the carriageway for hard-shoulder running. Four lanes of traffic during peak times to beat congestion should be operational by March next year.

There will be overnight lane closures of the first two lanes on the northbound carriageway from 10pm on Friday to 8am Saturday between junctions 8 for the M5 and 10 Walsall.

A full closure will be in place northbound from junctions 8 to 10 while work is done on the overhead gantries and the carriageway from 10pm on Saturday to 10am Sunday.

Highways Agency chiefs said the closures were needed for the £150m Managed Motorways scheme, which they say is on track to be ready next spring.

Paul Unwin, Highways Agency project manager, said:"The M6 northbound closures will ensure the safety of road users and provide a safe working area for our workforce while we carry out work as part of the Managed Motorway scheme.

"This includes work on the overhead gantries and the installation of vehicle detector loops in 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.

"Work is being carried out overnight and at the weekend to ensure disruption to road users is kept to a minimum." Motorists will be diverted from junction 8 via the M5 to junction 1 West Bromwich, then the A41 Expressway, the Black Country Spine Road and the A454 Willenhall Road to rejoin the M6 at junction 10.

A diversion will be signed from this route towards junction 9 of the M6.

Drivers heading for the M6 northbound will be able to join the M6 southbound at junction 8, leaving at junction 7 onto the A34 Stratford Road, the A4148 Pleck Road/Bescot Road and the A454 to rejoin the M6 at junction 10.

Traffic information is available at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic, Traffic Radio digital service or on 0300 123 5000.