National Highways announces £196 million investment to improve roads across the Midlands

Millions of road users in the Midlands are set to enjoy safer, quicker and easier journeys, as part of a package of improvements worth £196 million to roads, pavements and bridges across the region.

The announcement comes as the Government continues its drive to level up transport in regions right across the country, investing in vital infrastructure and boosting both connections and local economies as we build back better from the pandemic.

Well-known motorways and major A-roads including the M6, M5, M1 and A1, A5 and A43 are all included in the package. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are all set to benefit from the planned work, which includes road resurfacing, new road barriers and improvements to drainage to prevent flooding

National Highways will invest in 141 schemes across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and part of North Gloucestershire, as well as Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

National Highways Regional Director for the Midlands, Andrew Jinks, said:

“Hundreds of thousands of drivers travel through the Midlands every day for work journeys, home deliveries and the movement of the goods and services and major roads like the M1 and the M6 connect the Midlands to local roads and with the rest of the UK and the world via rail, ports and airports.  

“So it’s essential we keep these roads in a good condition to ensure safety and reliability. With this investment, National Highways will continue to deliver the essential maintenance and upgrades throughout the region to improve safety and help keep drivers on the move.”

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:

“We’re improving vital transport infrastructure across the Midlands, helping to create an economic hub with quick and easy connections to the rest of the UK.

“Investing millions in these essential schemes will provide a boost to the local area and beyond, as well as making journeys safer and easier for people across the country.”

Caption: National Highways will be carrying out essential maintenance on the region's road network

National Highways is working on a comprehensive maintenance programme in the region, with schemes including:

• M1 junction 19 to Gilmorton – £5m resurfacing project on the north and southbound carriageways between junction 19 and junction 21 of the M1.
• A1 southbound Wothorpe to South Witham – £4.3m resurfacing scheme on the southbound A1.
• A43 southbound Tove to Northampton Road roundabout – £5m resurfacing scheme on the southbound A43 between the Tove Roundabout and Northampton Road Roundabout.
• M69 junction 1 to M1 – £3m scheme on the M69 to replace sections of the existing vehicle restraint (barrier) systems between the M1 and junction 1 Hinckley.
• A1 Sutton on Trent to Blyth – £2m drainage scheme on the A1.
• M5 junctions 6 to 7– £12m installation of new concrete central barrier between junctions 6 (Warndon) and 7 (Worcester North). The new barrier will replace the existing steel restraint which has reached the end of its lifespan.
• A5 Mile Oak to Coventry Canal – £3.9m installation of new central reservation safety restraint barrier.
• M6 Barthomley – £3m bridge parapet upgrade with some upgrading of barrier at M6 junction 16 Barthomley Interchange.

This latest investment in the region’s roads follows on from last year’s essential maintenance programme which saw National Highways pump £186m into the completion of 195 road renewal and maintenance projects.

Over the previous 12 months, National Highways resurfaced 151.6 miles (244 lane km) of motorways and major A-roads in the Midlands.

A further 41,613 road studs were laid to help light the way for drivers, 127.3 miles (205 km) of safety barrier were renewed, with 36.2 miles (58.2 km) of drainage improvements to reduce carriageway flooding and 76 new bridge joints.

Recent work involved repairs to damaged concrete hidden underground at Bromford Viaduct near junction 6 (Spaghetti Junction). This involved careful excavation of land around the base of the concrete columns, which had been damaged by water, so specialist teams could inject special resin into the foundations to strengthen the concrete. The six-month project was completed in May this year. 

And at Spaghetti Junction, which celebrates 50 years since opening to traffic this year, a comprehensive £300,000 scheme earlier this year included resurfacing of the road and repairs to 10 joints which are designed to allow movement of the structure. 

To keep up to date with the latest travel information follow @HighwaysWMIDS on Twitter or visit the National Highways website.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

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