M6 Delivering Managed Motorways traffic management update for Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February 2010
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 09 February 2010
The Highways Agency will be carrying out work overnight this weekend to install new overhead gantries, signs and signals as part of the expansion of the Managed Motorway scheme on the M6.
The overnight closures for Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February 2010 are:
* Closure of the M6 Northbound Junction 10 (Walsall) to 12 (Cannock North) including the M54 Westbound from the M6 to M54 Junction 1 (Essington).
* Closure of the M54 Eastbound From Junction 1 (Essington) to the M6
* Closure of the M6 Junction 10 Northbound entry slip road
* Closure of the M6 Junction 11 Northbound entry slip road.
Fully signed diversion routes will be in operation from Junction 10 and 11 Northbound of the M6 and Junction 1 of the M54. Motorists should be aware that there will be no access to Hilton Park Service Area from the northbound carriageway.
David Grant, project head said:
"These closures are necessary to install the gantries and technology which will facilitate the use of Managed Motorways on the M6 between Junction 8 and 10A.
"Once complete, these improvements will help 160,000 road users make their journeys safely and more reliably every day by using variable speed limits to manage the flow of traffic and opening up the hard shoulder as a running lane to provide additional capacity when required.
"We are doing all that we can to reduce the disruption to motorists and local residents, but remind road-users to check their fuel levels before setting off as there will be no access to Hilton Park Services from the northbound carriageway."
Notes to Editors
1. Diversion routes will be fully signposted on the evening of the closure. The routes are subject to change based on local traffic conditions or other incidents in the area.
2. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
3. The diversion routes have been chosen based on a number of criteria including; the diversion routes should use HA roads, dual carriageways and avoid residential areas as much as is practicable. Extensive use of the variable message signs across the country will advise road users, in advance, of the closures and the diversion routes.
4. The works will be carried out and supervised by Carillion Infrastructure and Costain Management on behalf of the Highways Agency. For more information visit www.highways.gov.uk/atm
5. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new traffic radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
6. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
7. For more general information about the highways agency and its work, visit the highways agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the highways agency information line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 4p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)
Safe driving at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of roadworkers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
* Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety.
* Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching.
* Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
* Be alert for works' traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
* Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front.
* Observe all signs - they are there to help you.
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Contacts:
Highways Out of Hours
Phone: 020 7081 7443
nds.highwaysagency@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Nathan Wallis
Phone: 0121 421 8852
Mobile: 07768 068031
nathan.wallis@highways.gsi.gov.uk
