M40/M42 interchange safety barrier upgrade

Latest updates

• 11 December 2024

  Overnight closures for planting work

  While our upgrade of the M40-M42 Interchange was completed before Christmas 2023, several months earlier than planned, we need to close some lanes for some planting works that were not part of the original project scope. 

  All parties have agreed that it made sense to correct them now.

  To do this safely, we need to install the following closures, which will also take place at night when the level of traffic is expected to be lower. 

  Upcoming night time (between 9pm and 6am) closures:

  13 December 2024

  • Lane 1-2 closure of M42 southbound between junctions 5 and 4
  • Lane 1-2 closure of M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5

  Please note: these closures may be amended due to poor weather or operational reasons.

  As there are other highway schemes in the local area, including M42 Junctions 4-7, M42 Junction 6, M6 Junctions 4 to 10a and HS2’s works, it is advisable that you also check the webpages relating to your travel.

• 11 September 2024

  Lighting issues to be corrected

  While our safety barrier upgrade of the M40-M42 interchange was completed before Christmas - several months earlier than planned - we identified some long standing issues with lighting that were not part of the original project scope. We're correcting these issues now while we're still in the area.

• 17 June 2024

  Lighting work in July

  While upgrading central reservation barriers, we identified some issues with lighting .

  We'll be correcting lighting along this stretch of the motorway while we're still in the area.

  We'll need overnight closures from 9pm to 6am while we work at these locations:

  • M42 southbound between junctions 4 and 3
  • M40 northbound between junctions 16 and 3a

  Please remember that closure details can change at short notice.  For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page. 

• 09 February 2024

  Our programme of work

  Our safety enhancement work to upgrade the central reservation barrier along the M40 and M42 near Birmingham is now complete. However, we will continue to deliver essential maintenance work, including new road markings and drainage repairs, along this section of the network through February 2024.

  Since February 2023, we have replaced more than five miles of steel barrier with a safer, more efficient concrete barrier.

  Concrete barriers are much stronger than metal ones and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion. They greatly reduce the need for maintenance and will last twice as long as normal metal barriers, with far less need for closures for routine repairs.

  The early finish is down to a number of factors, including the use of an innovative new precast concrete barrier which can be laid faster than other types of concrete barrier. It has a different foundation design that allows a quicker installation process and eliminates some of the time-consuming post-installation operations required for other barriers.

  Staff working on the project are now carrying out similar safety upgrades on the M42 between junctions 4 and 7. 

  We would like to thank the local community and motorists for their continued patience while this important work is carried out.