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M62 - Your Local History
A lot of finds were uncovered during the archaeological evaluation carried out for the M62 Junction 6 Improvement scheme so we thought it would be nice to provide an interactive website so you can see what we found.
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Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions
Quick Links
Don't Cross or Walk Along Motorways
The Highways Agency aims to make more people aware of the dangers of walking or crossing our motorway. We have launched a poster and radio campaign aimed at 16-25yr olds. Hopefully with our hard hitting posters, our message will come across.
Educating tomorrow's drivers
See how we are driving through key messages about safety on our network for the drivers of tomorrow.
Meet the Ancestors
Find out about the history of roads and the work the Agency does to preserve archaeological remains.
See when traffic will be lightest
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M42 Junction 5 Hard Shoulder Through Junction Running
M42 Junction 5 Southbound Part Time Hard Shoulder Through Junction Running
How does Part Time Hard Shoulder Through Junction Running work?
This forms part of the Active Traffic Management project on the M42 between junctions 3A and 7. The section of Through Junction Running at Junction 5 southbound operates in the same way as the rest of the scheme. Drivers are authorised to drive on the hard shoulder when a speed limit is displayed over it. Only when a speed limit is on display can drivers use the hard shoulder as a running lane. This is exactly the same as the arrangements elsewhere between Junctions 3A and 7. See also How does it work? for more information about Active Traffic Management.
Variable Message Signs, along with the Advance Direction Sign approaching the junction, and a sign on the slip road onto the motorway, tell drivers which lanes are open for use.
Approaching the junction, the Advance Direction Sign located at the junction indicates which lanes are open for which destination.
Figure 1 - Advance direction sign at Junction 5 Southbound showing that the hard shoulder is open to traffic travelling through the junction.
When the hard shoulder is open to traffic through the junction area, lane arrows show that all four lanes may be used to continue along the M42. The turn onto the A41 to Solihull is shown in the top section of the sign.
Figure 2 - Advance direction sign at Junction 5 Southbound when that the hard shoulder is closed to traffic through the junction.
At all other times, the sign shows three lanes available for M42 traffic with the inside lane for the A41 only.
The large Variable Message Signs located on the gantries help drivers to know which lanes are open on the road ahead of them. These signs show dynamically which lanes are open approaching the junction, travelling through the junction or joining the motorway at the junction.
Approaching the junction, when the hard shoulder is open to traffic upstream between Junction 6 and Junction 5 or between Junction 6 and Junction 4, legends indicate whether the hard shoulder through the junction is open to traffic.
Figure 3 - Schematic of Sign legends approaching the junction, showing the hard shoulder closed through the junction (left hand image), or open (right hand image).
At the merge where traffic joins at Junction 5, the signs provide clear advice to drivers on which lanes are currently open to traffic. In addition to showing whether or not the hard shoulder downstream of the merge is open to traffic, when the hard shoulder is closed the signs show the distance in yards to the end of the auxiliary lane.
Figure 4 - Schematic of Sign legends at the merge, showing that hard shoulder is open downstream
Figure 5 - Schematic of Sign legends at the merge, showing that the hard shoulder is closed downstream
How do I leave the motorway at Junction 5?
Drivers wanting to use the junction leave the motorway from the inside lane as now.
What about joining the motorway?
When joining the motorway, drivers travelling down the slip road see a verge mounted Fixed Text Message Sign (FTMS), which shows whether the hard shoulder is open to traffic travelling through the junction.
Figure 6 - FTMS showing the hard shoulder through the junction open to traffic (left) or displaying a grey background (right) at all other times
When the hard shoulder is open to traffic, drivers merge at the bottom of the slip road into traffic coming along the hard shoulder. They are reminded of the need to give way by a broken white line at this point. Drivers can then accelerate in the auxiliary lane. When the hard shoulder is open between Junction 5 and Junction 4, they can remain in this lane and then use the hard shoulder. When it is closed, drivers have until the end of the auxiliary lane to merge across into the existing motorway traffic. This auxiliary lane is 620m in length, allowing plenty of time and space for drivers to move into the appropriate lane for their journey.
What should I do if I break down?
Always remember that motorway hard shoulders are for emergency use only and you should only stop there if it is a real emergency and you have no other choice. Try to drive to a safer place off the motorway if you can, rather than stopping on the hard shoulder. Please also refer to our safety pages. Please also refer to our safety pages.
