THERE’S good news for drivers as safety works at the M40 and M42 junction are set to be completed just before Christmas – months earlier than planned.
The National Highways scheme, which has seen around five-and-a-half miles of steel central reservation barrier replaced with concrete, new drainage installed and lighting replaced, was originally due to be complete in spring 2024.
However, the agency says the majority of daytime traffic management will be removed by November 19 and overnight restrictions will be in place until the scheme completes in time for the Christmas getaway.
It added the early finish is down to a number of factors including identifying an concrete barrier which can be laid faster than other types of concrete barrier installations and the drainage in the central reservation required less significant upgrades than was originally thought.
National Highways project sponsor Nick Wells said: “Road users will soon benefit from the range of measures implemented on this scheme which is part of a wider programme of work to further enhance safety on existing dynamic hard shoulder motorways.”
Many of the M40/M42 scheme’s contractors will now move further north on the M42 to deliver similar safety improvements using the same construction techniques and materials.
Overnight closures will be required for environmental surveys this month and next with main traffic management installed and construction starting in January.
The work involves replacing the steel central reservation barrier between junctions 4 for Shirley and 5 for Solihull and the installation of additional CCTV cameras and signage in the motorway verge.
The majority of these verge works will be carried out at night under separate lane closures in parallel with the construction of the new central reserve concrete barrier leading to construction completion late next summer.
The Highways Agency says a webpage for the M42 junction 4-6 project will be live shortly.
