What is happening?

We are working to improve the M6 by making it a "managed motorway" between junctions 10a and 13. Managed motorways help relieve congestion by using technology to vary speed limits. They also allow the hard shoulder to be used as a running lane to create additional capacity. They deliver these benefits at a significantly lower cost than conventional motorway widening and with less impact on the environment during construction. Find out more about Managed Motorways.

When and where is this happening?

In the November 2011 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that the M6 Junction 10a to 13 managed motorway scheme would be prepared for start of construction before 2015.

Following this, the 2012 Budget announcement confirmed the start of construction for this scheme to be in financial year 2014/15, subject to the outcome of statutory processes. Since then, the Prime Minister announced that this scheme would be one of four schemes to be included in a pilot to significantly reduce the delivery time of road projects; we have been challenged to complete this scheme by Spring 2015. We expect this scheme to commence construction between January and March 2014. For more information please visit our Current Delivery Programme page.

This Managed Motorway scheme will be carried out on the M6 between junctions 10a-13, located near Stafford and Cannock.

Why is this happening and what will it cost?

The M6 between Birmingham and Manchester is a strategic route that carries high volumes of heavy goods and other vehicles. Congestion and unreliable journey times are already being experienced at busy periods and traffic is predicted to continue to grow over time

The M6 meets a number of important high level needs:

• It is part of a Trans-European Network of Roads (Route E5)
• It is part of the national motorway network making a major contribution to the UK economy
• It forms an integral part of the main transport corridor connecting the Midlands, the North West of England, Scotland and Wales
• It is a major transport link for the movement of freight and other strategic traffic
• It facilitates the movement of holiday traffic and access to national events

The estimated cost of this scheme is in the range of £140 million and £201 million.

How will the scheme be carried out?

This project is formed of two distinct sections:

• Junctions 10a-11a
  It is proposed that this section between M54 and M6 toll would have the benefit of controlled motorway technology that can use gantry signing to control lane discipline and speeds, but would not necessarily implement hard shoulder running. This would enable the full benefit of providing dedicated slip road lanes at the interchanges with M54 and M6 toll to help accommodate the high flows expected to enter and leave the M6 at these motorway interchanges when hard shoulder running is in place to the north and/or south.
• Junctions 11a-13 It is proposed that this section from M6 toll to Stafford would have the benefit of a hard shoulder running solution.

What are the benefits?

This project will relieve congestion and smooth the flow of the traffic, improving safety and journey times. These benefits will also support economic development in the region.

We already have evidence of the benefits that a managed motorway scheme can bring. The first managed motorway scheme opened to traffic on the M42 motorway in 2006. Recent analysis of the data gathered since opening has found that journey time reliability improved by 22 per cent and reduced emissions by up to 10 per cent due to traffic flowing more smoothly.

In addition, personal injury accidents have reduced by more than half (55.7%) since hard shoulder running was introduced. There was also an overall reduction in the severity of accidents with zero fatalities and fewer seriously injured.

How do I find out more information ?

More information will be posted on this project page as it becomes available. You can subscribe to be alerted when updates are made.

If you have any queries about this project you should contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_​info@​highways.​gsi.​gov.​uk or calling 0300 123 5000.