ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMES CLOSER TO M6 MOTORISTS

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney has news for M6 motorists – hard shoulder running is coming closer. The Highways Agency has announced Phase 2 of its “Active Traffic Management” scheme between Junctions 8 and 10A of the M6.

David Kidney says that after decades of delay over M6 widening, this news of swift action to provide more capacity is very welcome:

“Following the excellent results achieved by the first Phase of Active Traffic Management on the M42, the Highways Agency is rightly pressing on with more hard shoulder running.

“What the M42 scheme demonstrates is faster journeys during peak times, less congestion, fewer collisions and personal injuries and an overall cut in carbon emissions.

“We definitely want these benefits on the M6 as well. The Agency has informed me this innovative scheme will now be extended onto other local motorways – those comprising what is known as the “Birmingham Box”, including the M6. With money from the Department for Transport’s Productivity Transport Innovation funding, Junctions 8 to 10A will now be fitted with both variable speed limits and hard shoulder running.

“Obviously we must expect some disruption during the works, which are due to start in April 2010 and take until Spring 2011 to complete. During the road works the Agency is committed to keeping open three lanes in busy periods to minimise the disruption, although occasional evening closures will be necessary.

“This section of the M6 between the M54 at Junction 10A and the M5 at Junction 8 is one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the whole country and will benefit from an additional lane at busy times. Hard shoulder running brings this benefit without the extensive cost, delay and additional land-take that widening requires.”