M42 junction 4-7 safety barrier upgrade

Enhancing safety on this vital West Midlands route.

We'll be installing a stronger, safer concrete barrier on the central reserve

Latest updates

28 June 2024

An update on our programme of work this July

We’re continuing to deliver important safety upgrades on the central reserve barriers on the M42 which includes replacing the existing steel one with a stronger and more efficient concrete barrier, as well as installing new CCTV and roadside signage. This work – set to be complete this autumn – is being carried out on the M42 between junctions 4 and 7.

Work began in early 2024 with some closures in place to allow for the safe installation of traffic management, to ensure the safety of all road users and our construction team. To offer additional safety and assurance, those lanes are covered by CCTV and will operate at 50mph. We’ll also have a free recovery service in place for vehicles that have broken down within our roadworks.

We require further closures, as shown below.

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

Date	Details	Closure & Diversion Route
28 June	M42 southbound between junctions 7 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
	M42 southbound entry slip road	Entry slip road closure Diversion via M42 junction 6 to 9 and return
	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
1-5, 8-12 July 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 7 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
1-5, 8-12 July 2024	M42 southbound entry slip road	Entry slip road closure Diversion via M42 junction 6 to 9 and return
2 July 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 6	Lane 1 and 2 closures (2 July) and lane 3 and 2 closures (15/16 July)
2-4 July 2024	M42 northbound entry slip road	Entry slip road closure Diversion via M42 junction 4 to 3a to M40 junction 16 and return
3-4 July 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 5 and 3a	Lane 1 and 2 closures
3-4 July 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
8 July 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 5 and 3a	Lane 1 and 2 closures
9 July 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
15-16 July 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 3 and 3a	Lane 3 closure
	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 6	Lane 1 and 2 closures (2 July) and lane 3 and 2 closures (15/16 July)
	M42 southbound between junctions 7 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
	M42 southbound entry slip road	Entry slip road closure Diversion via M42 junction 6 to 9 and return

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

As there are other schemes underway in the local area, including M40/ M42 Interchange, M42 Junction 6, M6 Junctions 4 to 10a and HS2’s works, please check the webpages relating to your travel, allow extra time for your journey travel, and of course, pay attention to signage on the highway.

14 June 2024

An update on our programme of work this June

We require further closures, as shown below.

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

Date	Details	Closure & Diversion Route
14, 21, 24-26 June 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 6 and 4	Lane 1 and 2 closures
14 June 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
	M42 northbound between junctions 2 and 3a	Lane 3 and 2 closures
	M42 southbound between junctions 3a and 2	Lane 3 and 2 closures
17-20 June 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 6 and 5	Lane 3 and 2 closures leading to closures of southbound entry slip road at junction 5 and full carriageway closure between junctions 5 and 4. Diversion route via junction 5 to 4 and return.

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

20 December 2023

Essential safety upgrades in 2024

We’re continuing to deliver important safety upgrades on the central reserve barriers on the M42 which includes replacing the existing steel one with a stronger and more efficient concrete barrier, as well as installing new CCTV and roadside signage. This work – which is set to be complete by autumn 2024 – is being carried out on the M42 between junctions 4 and 7.

Work will begin in early 2024 with some closures in place to allow for the safe installation of traffic management, to ensure the safety of all road users and our construction team.

To offer additional safety and assurance, those lanes are covered by CCTV and will operate at 50mph. We’ll also have a free recovery service in place for vehicles that have broken down within our roadworks.

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

Date

Details

Closure & Diversion Route

18-20 January 2024

M42 J4-J5 northbound

Lane closures

30 January 2024 M42 J4-J5 northbound Lane 1 and 2 closures

M42 J5-J4 southbound

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

See more updates

Project information

We'll be carrying out safety enhancement work including:

upgrading the central reservation barrier with a new reinforced concrete barrier to provide better safety
installing new drainage infrastructure in the central reservation
replacing central reservation lighting where applicable
installing new CCTV and signage in the motorway verge

Concrete barriers significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another.

They improve safety by reducing the duration of incident-related congestion. As they are virtually maintenance-free, lasting twice as long as the current ones, future requirements for closures for routine repairs will be greatly reduced.

They are part of National Highways’ ongoing work to improve safety, maintain traffic flow and offer road user assurance.