Smart motorway

The UK’s Highways Agency has completed the latest section of a ‘smart motorway’ project on the M6 near Birmingham, resulting in improved journey times and less traffic congestion.

The opening of the ten-mile section between junctions 5 and 8 on the M6 marks a milestone for the agency, after several years of investment to improve the stretch.

Highways Agency project manager Rob Edwards said: "Drivers will reap the benefit of the government investing more than £111m on this stretch of the M6, with improved journeys and a boost for the economy.

"The move to smart motorways began in the Midlands on the M42 in 2006.

"This scheme brings the latest technology to the M6, despite the difficult engineering challenges we faced with the motorway being elevated.

"More than 160,000 road users stand to benefit each day, now we can open the hard shoulder during the busiest times."

"More than 160,000 road users stand to benefit each day, now we can open the hard shoulder during the busiest times."

The smart motorway project included installing 21 new gantries, revamping three existing gantries, resurfacing more than 100,000m² of carriageway, laying over 78 miles of cabling and constructing six emergency refuge areas.

In addition, carriageway joints are being replaced along this stretch, and will be completed by early June.

The smart motorway scheme was delivered within budget, working closely with contractor Carillion, and involved more than 1,700 workers since the construction began in April 2012.

The M6 smart motorway section launch is the second to go live this week, following the opening of an eight-mile stretch on the M25 on 14 April.

Image: The smart motorway project included the installation of 21 new gantries and revamp of three existing gantries. Photo: courtesy of the UK Highways Agency.