High Speed 2 (HS2) works on National Highways network

HS2 is a new high-speed railway which will link London to Birmingham (Phase One) and then on to Manchester (Phase 2a), the East Midlands and Leeds (Phase 2b).

Phase One of HS2 has several direct interactions with our strategic road network of motorway and major A roads in the West Midlands, East Midlands and the South East. Construction of new structures, road widening and realignment of roads are required so that the high-speed line can effectively cross our road network. We are committed to working with HS2 Ltd and other partners to plan and co-ordinate our works programmes where we can.

Our roads network is vital to the running of the country and our customers and their safety remains our priority. While HS2 carry out these works we will make every effort to keep you updated and informed in advance of works to help you plan your journeys. We are committed to ensuring safety on our strategic road network and supporting a better-connected future.

These works are being co-ordinated and carried out by HS2 Ltd. For further information about HS2 you can contact HS2 directly. Details of the HS2 works on our network are below.

Project information

HS2 works that are taking place on the National Highways network will be shown below.

HS2 contractors Balfour Beatty VINCI will need to close two lanes of the M6 motorway on the southbound carriageway and the slip road connecting the northbound M6 at Junction 4 to the southbound M42. To minimise the disruption, the work will be carried out overnight between the hours of 9pm on 22 July and 5am on 23 July.

There will be a fully signed diversion via the A446 and A452 down to the A45 westbound for traffic to rejoin the M42 at junction 6 (Bickenhill Interchange/NEC/Birmingham Airport/Birmingham International Railway Station/Resorts World) and then drivers can continue on their journeys either northbound or southbound.

Long-term traffic management is now in place on the M42/M6 link road. This involves closing lane one and the hard shoulder of the M42/M6 link road southbound connector.

This will reduce the lane availability from two running lanes of traffic to one and will be in place from 24 August 2023 until further notice.

Contact HS2 Helpdesk team all day, every day of the year on:

Freephone: 08081 434 434

Minicom: 08081 456 472

Email: HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

HS2 contractor BBV will install overnight closures of the eastbound and westbound carriageways on the M42/M6 link road from 9pm each night and re-opening at 5am each morning. This is to undertake carriageway cleaning works.

See below a breakdown of these overnight closures from June to December 2024:

M6/M42 eastbound

Friday 26 July to Saturday 27 July
Friday 30 August to Saturday 31 August
Friday 27 September to Saturday 28 September
Friday 25 October to Saturday 26 October
Friday 29 November to Saturday 30 November
Thursday 19 December to Friday 20 December

The eastbound closures and approved diversion route are as follows:

M42/M6 traffic to continue southbound on the M6 to junction 4a to join the A446/A452 southbound to join the A45 westbound to join the M42 at junction 6 to rejoin the M42 northbound.

M42/M6 westbound

Friday 12 July to Saturday 13 July
Friday 26 July until Saturday 27 July
Friday 16 August to Saturday 17 August
Friday 13 September to Saturday 14 September
Friday 18 October to Saturday 19 October
Friday 15 November to Saturday 16 November
Friday 13 December to Saturday 14 December

The westbound closure and approved diversion route:

The diversion route will be to continue on M42 southbound from junction 8 to junction 6. At M42 junction 6 exit the M42 southbound onto the roundabout and take the M42 slip road to go northbound and join the M6 westbound.

Contact the HS2 Helpdesk team all day, every day of the year on:

Freephone: 08081 434 434

Minicom: 08081 456 472

Email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk