PLANS for major multi-million pound improvements to the M42 junction with A45 are set to be discussed next month.
A public consultation will get underway in December into a £282 million scheme to accommodate the increased traffic around junction 6 of the M42 and allow better movement of vehicles on and off the A45.
At present the junction provides access to Birmingham International Airport and the NEC, Jaguar Land Rover, Birmingham International railway station, the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham Business Park and will also lead to the proposed HS2 ‘hub’ station in the future.
If nothing is done to the improve the junction, Highways England predicts it will not be able to accommodate the traffic demands beyond 2019.
The changes to the junction will hope to provide more reliable and safer operation of the wider M42 and A45, increase capacity which will support in order to aid economic growth in the area, and increase resilience and reliability of the trunk road network.
Announcing the consultation alongside number of other highways developments in the region at a two-day Highways UK event at the NEC in Birmingham, chief executive of Highways England Jim O’Sullivan said: “We are currently delivering more than £15 billion of investment in over 100 major schemes across England that will enhance, renew and improve the network and it’s fantastic to see key projects like these in the Midlands making real progress.
“The Midlands is at the heart of England’s strategic road network and investment in schemes like these benefits the whole country.
“This region really is the ‘Midlands Engine’ which drives the country.”
