The Highways Agency has started advance works on the M6 junction 10a to 13 managed motorway all lane running scheme in the West Midlands.
The Agency started to put roadworks into place on Tuesday (17 September) night, starting with the northbound carriageway at junction 11a. This will continue over the next 18 days to cover the 6.5 miles between junction 11a and junction 13, northbound then southbound.
This work will create three narrow lanes on each carriageway between junction 11a and junction 13. Temporary signs and barriers will be installed and a reduced 50mph temporary speed limit will be in place, except for a short section of the M6 near the Penkridge viaduct, close to J13, where it will reduce to 40mph.
The advance work includes vegetation clearance, detailed surveys, upgrading drainage within the existing motorway verges, preparing the ground for the foundations for the overhead signs, and excavation work along the verges where the emergency refuge areas will be. Work on the section between junctions 10a and J11a will follow on from this.
Full construction will begin later this year. This has been brought forward from early 2014. The scheme is due to be completed in spring 2015.
The M6 between junctions 10a and 13 is a major strategic route connecting people, communities and businesses and carries around 120,000 vehicles per day. The improvements the Agency is delivering, will upgrade the M6 to a managed motorway all lane running standard. From junctions 11a to 13, the hard shoulder will be converted into a traffic lane, providing more capacity for road users, with a three-lane controlled motorway between 10a and 11a only. Variable mandatory speed limits will be implemented throughout, and will be displayed overhead to control traffic speeds and keep road users moving.
Under the scheme, new infrastructure including overhead signs, CCTV cameras, up to date motorway communications systems and emergency refuge areas will be constructed and installed.
Highways Agency project manager David Cooke said: “Fast-tracking the scheme will bring economic benefits sooner, and reduce disruption to road users by shortening construction times.”
