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

11 April 2024

An update on our programme of work

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 began in early 2024 with some closures in place to allow for the installation of traffic management measures, to ensure the safety of all road users and our construction team while work is underway.

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.

To progress our work, we require further closures:

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

Date	Details	Closure & Diversion Route
15-19 April 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures
17 April 2024	M42 northbound junction 5 entry slip road closure	Diversion via M42 junction 4 and return
18-19 April 2024	M42 northbound junction 4 entry slip road closure	Lane 1 and 2 closures leading to full closure of M42 northbound junction 4 entry slip Diversion via M40 junction 16 and return
22-23 April 2024	M42 northbound junctions 3a to 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures leading to full closure of M42 northbound to M42 northbound link road and M42 junction 3a to 5 Diversion via M42 junction 3a , M40 junction 16, A435, A4040, B4146, A34, A41 to M42 junction 5
22-23 April 2024	M40 northbound between junction 16 and M42 junction 3a to 5	Lane 1 closure leading to full closure of M40 northbound to M42 northbound link road and M42 junction 3a to 5 Diversion via M42 junction 3a to M42 junction 3, A435, A4040, B4146, A34, A41 to M42 junction 5
24-26 April 2024	M42 northbound between junctions 4 and 5	Lane 1 and 2 closures between junctions 4 and 5 including full closure of junction 4 entry slip road Diversion via M42 junction 4 to M40 junction 16 and return
26 April 2024	M42 southbound between junctions 5 and 3a	Lane 1 and 2 closures

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

As there are other highway schemes in the local area, including M40/ M42 Interchange, M42 Junction 6, M6 Junctions 4 to 10a and HS2’s works, we advise you to check the webpages before you travel.

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.