Highways England (HE) has announced that it will be initiating structural repair works to the damaged concrete and renewing the waterproofing of the elevated road structure on the northbound carriageway around junction 7 for Great Barr.

The highway agency further explained that new expansion joints will be installed on the carriageway to allow movement within the structure and for further water protection.

Highways England project manager Jessica Kenny said: “If we don’t act now, water will cause more damage in the structure corroding the steel reinforcement bars and causing further damage to the concrete itself.

"If we don’t act now, water will cause more damage in the structure corroding the steel reinforcement bars and causing further damage to the concrete itself."

“Therefore, leaving it alone is not an option and it would mean bigger and more disruptive roadworks in future.”

The work is slated to begin from 20 February, and will part of HE’s plan to build a modern and resilient road network.

The works will be part of a series of essential bridge maintenance schemes across the region and also part of an investment programme over the next five years.

The structural repair works will be completed before a similar but much larger scheme gets under way on the M5 junction 1 to 2 Oldbury viaduct.

HE intends to complete the work on the M6 within seven weeks with three narrow lanes introduced during the weekday to protect the workforce.

The highway way agency further added that during the day the entry and exit slip road will remain open and some closures could be implemented during the night.