Hopes M6 lane plan will solve congestion problem

Opening up the hard shoulder to create a fourth lane along the M6 to Stafford is the cheapest solution to congestion, council bosses said today.

Work will start in 2014 on introducing the managed motorways scheme between junction 10A at Essington to 13 at Stafford.

The project is an extension of works set to start between junction eight for the M5 link at West Bromwich and junction five at Castle Bromwich. Stafford Borough Council deputy leader, Councillor Mike Smith, welcomed the announcement. "The system they have introduced further south seems to work satisfactorily," he said.

"I'm a little bit concerned about what happens in the event of a breakdown, but they have CCTV and I presume they would just close the lane off immediately.

"It is the cheapest solution to a major problem, and any disruption will be a lot less than if they were going to start building any extra lanes.

"The M6 is one of the busiest motorways in Europe between Birmingham and Manchester." Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson added: "This is long overdue. We do not want another motorway so this is a good alternative to having those extra lanes. People have suffered long enough waiting for hours on end on a motorway in the traffic."

Motorists have been warned they face hold-ups when the schemes get under way.

A 50mph speed restriction is expected to be in force up to Stafford. Highways Agency bosses have confirmed the restriction between junctions five and eight when the £126million project starts in a month.