M42 junction 6

Latest updates

• 15 October 2025

  Work from 17 October to November

  To work safely, we'll need these overnight (9pm - 5am) closures.

  Closures

  17 October 

  • M42 junction 6 southbound exit slip road and East Way link 

  Southbound to M42 Junction 5 to return northbound to Junction 6 diversion route

  17 October and 20 to 27 October

  • M42 northbound between junctions 5a and 6

  M42 northbound Junction 5a to 6 and southbound Junction 6 to 5 diversion

  27 October

  • M42 junction 6 southbound exit slip road and East Way link

  Southbound to M42 Junction 5 to return northbound to Junction 6 diversion route

  28 and 29 October

  • M42 southbound between junctions 7a and 6 (including link from M6 J4a)

  M42 Junction 9 to A446, A452 and A45 diversion route

  28 to 31 October and 3 to 11 November

  • M42 northbound between junctions 5 and 6
  • A4545 northbound

  There'll be a clearly signed diversion for northbound M42 traffic:

  • take the A41, Damson Parkway and the A45
  • rejoin the M42 at junction 6

  M42 northbound Junction 5 to 6 and A4545 northbound diversion route

  12 to 14 November

  • M42 junction 5a northbound exit slip road
  • A4545 northbound

  There'll be a clearly signed diversion for northbound M42 traffic by junction 6.

  M42 northbound Junction 5 northbound exit slip and A4545 northbound diversion route 

  On 14 November we’ll reopen the B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane bridge.

  We'll continue working on the B4102 Solihull Road bridge. We’ll update this page when future dates are confirmed.

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  If you’d like more information about this upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

• 08 September 2025

  Work from 22 September to November

  We’ll repair B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane bridge and B4102 Solihull Road bridge at the same time.

  Closures

  To work safely, we'll need these overnight (9pm - 5am) closures on the M42 and A4545.

  22 to 30 September

  • M42 southbound between junctions 6 and 5a
  • A4545 northbound

  M42 southbound diversion map.

  A4545 northbound diversion map.

  1 to 16 October - M42 southbound between junctions 6 and 5a

  M42 southbound closure diversion.

  6 to 9 October

  • M42 northbound junction 6 exit slip road
  • M42 northbound lane 1 and 2 closure between junctions 5a and 6

  M42 northbound J9 diversion map

  Please also consider exiting the M42 at J5a and using the A4545 and A45 to reach junction 6.

  17 October and 20 to 27 October

  • M42 northbound between junctions 5a and 6

  M42 northbound J5a to 6 and southbound j6 to 5 diversion map.

  28 to 30 October

  • M42 southbound between junctions 7a and 6 (including link from M6 J4a)

  Diversion route follow M42 J9 to A446, A452 and A45

  28 to 31 October and 3 to 11 November

  • M42 northbound between junctions 5 and 6
  • A4545 northbound

  There'll be a clearly signed diversion for northbound M42 traffic:

  • take the A41, Damson Parkway and the A45
  • rejoin the M42 at junction 6

  M42 northbound j5 to 6 and A4545 northbound diversion map.

  12 to 14 November

  • M42 junction 5a northbound exit slip road
  • A4545 northbound

  There'll be a clearly signed diversion for northbound M42 traffic by  junction 6.

  M42 northbound j5 northbound exit slip and  A4545 northbound diversion map.

  On 14 November we’ll reopen the B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane bridge.

  We'll continue working on the B4102 Solihull Road bridge.

  We’ll update this page when future dates are confirmed.

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  If you’d like more information about this upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk 
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

• 26 August 2025

  1 to 5 September 2025 - junction 6 southbound exit slip road closure

  Next week we’ll switch traffic onto the new alignment of the southbound M42 junction 6 slip road.

  Closure

  To work safely, we'll close the slip road overnight (9pm - 5am) from Monday 1 to Friday 5 September.

  Diversion

  A clearly signed diversion route will be in place.

  • continue on the southbound M42
  • leave at junction 5 and rejoin the northbound M42.

  M42 junction 6 slip road closure diversion.

  If you're heading to Birmingham Airport or into Birmingham by the A45, you can:

  • leave at junction 5a
  • follow the A4545 dual carriageway to Clock Interchange

  B4438 and B4102 bridge closures

  To complete repair work, we need to close these bridges to drivers 24/7:

  • B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane bridge - Monday 22 September to November 2025
  • B4102 Solihull Road bridge - Monday 22 September to January 2026

  We’ll also need:

  • northbound lane closures of the A4545
  • some closures of the M42 between junctions 5 and 6

  We’ll update this page with details when closures are confirmed.

  Diversions

  We'll put clearly signed diversion routes in place for drivers using the B4438 and B4102.

  Overview of all closures and diversions.

  Bickenhill

  Access into Bickenhill will be from the A4545 by Clock Interchange or along Shadowbrook Lane.

  B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane diversion map.

  Hampton in Arden

  Access to and from Hampton in Arden will be by Friday Lane and Eastcote Lane.

  B4102 Solihull Road diversion map.

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  If you’d like more information about this upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk 
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

• 11 August 2025

  Essential bridge repairs from 22 September

  We’re repairing two bridges on our M42 junction 6 upgrade scheme.

  There's no immediate safety risk. Doing this work now means less disruption in the future. 

  Closures

  To complete our work, we need to close these bridges to drivers 24/7:

  • B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane bridge - Monday 22 September to November 2025
  • B4102 Solihull Road bridge - Monday 22 September to January 2026

  We’ll also need:

  • northbound lane closures of the A4545
  • some closures of the M42 between junctions 5 and 6

  We’ll update this page with details when closures are confirmed.

  Diversions

  We'll put clearly signed diversion routes in place for drivers using the B4438 and B4102.

  Overview of all closures and diversions.

  Bickenhill

  Access into Bickenhill will be from the A4545 by Clock Interchange or along Shadowbrook Lane.

  B4438 Catherine de Barnes Lane diversion map.

  Hampton in Arden

  Access to and from Hampton in Arden will be by Friday Lane and Eastcote Lane.

  B4102 Solihull Road diversion map.

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  If you’d like more information about this upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk 
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

  For the latest information about our scheme and upcoming roadworks you can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @HighwaysWMIDS and find us on Facebook (National Highways: West Midlands)

• 30 May 2025

  Solihull Road bridge and Catherine de Barnes Lane south ongoing work

  In summer 2024 an issue in the quality of steel used on some recently-built structures across the UK was announced by steel manufacturer Severfield. This impacts a small number of bridges on our network including the B4102 Solihull Road bridge, and on the A4545 Catherine de Barnes Lane south.

  Since the issue was identified, we’ve been carrying out extensive surveys and monitoring of the bridges. We’ve now completed these inspections, and our team of specialists are developing a programme to ensure that we can deliver the necessary repairs while minimising the impact to the public.

  To ensure the safety of the public and our workforce, traffic management and a single lane closure has been put in place to minimise the risks of deterioration and allow the bridge to remain open while we implement the corrective works required.

  Safety remains our top priority and these restrictions will remain in place until work is complete to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce. 
  Due to the complex nature of the work, the repairs are scheduled to be completed in early autumn 2025. We’ll provide further information once the programme of work is confirmed.

• 18 December 2024

  A4545 and M42 junction 5a open to traffic

  This morning the first cars left the M42 at the new junction 5a and made their way along the newly-opened A4545 link road.

  The road will increase capacity and provide an easier link to access not only Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Business Park, but also a more direct route to and from the A45 into Birmingham.

  Some traffic management will remain in place, including single lane running in each direction, which will allow us to safely continue infrastructure work on the A4545, and we expect the road to be fully open in spring 2025.

  By opening the road now, we’ll be able to improve traffic flow within the area which will be of particular benefit during the busy Christmas period.

  As one of the largest infrastructure projects in The Midlands, nearly 1 million cubic metres of soil have been moved to build the link road with most of it being used by nearby HS2 teams who have used it for fill requirements, saving on transportation and disposal costs.

  The road is also surrounded by one of the largest underground highways waste water systems in Europe.

  We still need to carry out work on roads, footpaths, cycle routes and infrastructure in order to fully complete the project.

  As we proceed into 2025, we’ll be focusing on improving access on and around junction 6.

  To continue our work safely, overnight closures will be place on the A45, parts of the junction 6 gyratory and M42 itself. We’ll continue to keep you informed via notifications, social media updates, and on this webpage.

  What is junction 5a and the A4545?

  M42 junction 5a is a new motorway junction approximately 1.8km south of the existing M42 junction 6. The junction connects to a new 2.4km dual carriageway link road, aligned to the west of Bickenhill.

  It runs from junction 5a to Clock Interchange roundabout, providing direct access from the M42 to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham Business Park, an alternative route to access the NEC and Resorts World, and a more direct route to connect to A45 westbound to Birmingham.

  We’d like to remind motorists to drive safely and familiarise themselves with the new road layout while everyone gets used to this major route.

  The layout of the new route can be found below:

  Map of new route

  How can we find out more?

  For more information, you can:

  • email us at: m42junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk
  • call us on: 0300 123 5000
  • You can also follow us on X and Facebook for up-to-date scheme information and updates on roadworks across the region.

• 13 August 2024

  An update on our programme of work

  While our work to deliver critical safety and capacity improvements to M42 junction 6 is continuing, we’re making a change to our programme of work on the scheme, brought about by the views of our key stakeholders and feedback from road users. The change involves the construction timetable of the new East Free Flow Link and means we’ll finish the overall project in winter 2025 instead of spring 2025.

  This new approach will significantly reduce the impact on businesses and road users travelling in and around the area.

  Explaining the change

  The new East Free Flow Link will connect the M42 southbound at junction 6 to the A45 Eastway towards Coventry. Work was planned to be completed through a 14-month closure of the existing Eastway loop. The loop currently takes traffic from the M42 southbound towards the NEC, Birmingham Airport and other businesses.

  We’ll now build the East Free Flow Link in two phases, removing the need to close the Eastway loop until a new connection is open. This will ensure motorists have still have access to the NEC, Resorts World and Birmingham Business Park via the junction 6 southbound exit and Eastway loop until the new road opens, after which access will be via the new connection.

  Phase one started in February this year and phase two is due to start in spring 2025, upon completion of the new southbound exit slip road. Every effort will be made to complete this work as soon as possible.

  The new A4545 link road

  Work on the construction of the new A4545 dual carriageway link road between the new M42 junction 5a and A45 Clock Interchange roundabout is progressing well and expect to open this road by the end of winter 2024/25. Once open, the road will provide smoother, safer and more reliable journeys to and from the motorway, as well as direct access to key businesses in the area.

  We’d like to thank road users and the local community for their patience while we complete this complex project. We’ll continue to work closely with stakeholders to improve our plans and programme of work, and every effort will be made to complete this work as soon as possible.

  If you’d like more information about this upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

• 12 February 2024

  Work begins on new link road to East Way

  As part of our programme of safety and capacity improvements at junction 6 of the M42, we will be constructing a new link road to East Way, and a free-flow link from the M42 southbound to the eastbound A45, highlighted in pink in the diagram below.

  

  The new free-flow link road will increase capacity for traffic joining the A45 eastbound, reducing congestion at the junction.

  To enable these upgrades at the junction to take place safely, we will implement narrow lanes on the A45 eastbound filter road from the M42 at junction 6.

  Narrow lanes will remain in place until winter 2024 as part of our ongoing improvement works.

  Gantry installation

  We will also be installing two gantries over the M42 near junction 6 with improved signage to boost driver safety.

  Clock Interchange improvements

  As part of our improvements to Clock Interchange roundabout, we will be moving the existing concrete barrier over the coming four weeks.

  Moving the barriers will enable us to upgrade street lighting, install traffic signs, and resurface the roundabout.

• 09 May 2023

  Watch how a bridge spanning the M42 was demolished

  This new time-lapse footage shows how specialist equipment was used to demolish the existing Solihull Road bridge which spanned the M42.

  The M42 was closed in both directions between junctions 5 and 6 from 10pm on Friday 5 May 2023 and was re-opened some 22 hours earlier than planned with closures removed from 7am onwards on the morning of Sunday 7 May.

  The demolition of this bridge marks a key milestone for the project. It means work can continue on the construction of the new junction 5a slip roads, part of our £282m investment to upgrade M42 junction 6 which also includes building a new 2.4km dual carriageway link road between this new junction and Clock Interchange. Once complete it will alleviate congestion for motorists, make journeys safer, and support economic growth in the region.

  If you’d like more information about the M42 junction 6 upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk

  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)

• 24 October 2022

  East Way link work delayed

  As part of the M42 Junction 6 Improvement scheme, we're planning to build a free flow link between the A45 eastbound and the M42 northbound. This link road would pass under the East Way bridge before joining the M42.

  As part of our robust inspection regime at East Way Bridge, we identified some issues with the bridge bearings underneath the structure. While we assess the type of solution that is needed, we've taken the precautionary measure of putting some supports underneath the bridge to resolve the issue temporarily. Scaffolding access remains in place to facilitate regular inspections and monitoring.

  The bridge is safe and remains open to traffic, however while assessments take place for the permanent solution at this bridge, we've decided to postpone our work on the new free flow link. 

  We understand this is disappointing, but safety is our top priority and we do not wish to compromise the ongoing assessment and monitoring work at East Way bridge by carrying out intrusive ground works near its foundations. 

  We're committed to building the new free flow link road in the future and we'll plan to complete this as a separate project alongside the permanent solution at East Way bridge. Our aim is to keep disruption to a minimum and limit the amount of roadworks in the area at any one time. We'll provide more information on when this work will be carried out as soon as it’s available.

• 18 October 2022

  Watch how two bridges were lifted into position over the M42

  The video features new timelapse footage which shows the moment two bridges, weighing a total of 2,050 tonnes, were moved into place over the M42 in Solihull.

  Specialist teams carried out the work last weekend, which took over 40 hours to complete.

  The installation of these bridges marks a key milestone for the M42 Junction 6 project team who are delivering a £282m upgrade of the motorway in Solihull, which will support economic growth and planned development in the region.

  If you’d like more information about the M42 Junction 6 scheme you can:

  • email us at: M42Junction6@nationalhighways.co.uk
  • call us on: 0300 123 5000

• 05 May 2022

  Watch how a 92-tonne footbridge was lifted into position over the A45

  This new time-lapse footage shows the moment a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists was installed across the A45 in Solihull.

  The 92-tonne bridge was lowered in to place by a team of 30 technical specialists and engineers who carried out the work on the evening of Saturday 30 April.

  It was installed as part of our £282m investment to upgrade M42 junction 6 which also includes building

  • a new 2.4km dual carriageway link road, aligned to the west of Bickenhill  
  • a new junction (5a) on the M42 motorway, approximately 1.8km south of the existing M42 Junction 6 (Solihull)  
  • two new roundabouts north of the B4102 Solihull Road on either side of the M42 motorway  

  Once complete it will alleviate congestion for motorists, make journeys safer, and support economic growth in the region.

  If you’d like more information about the M42 junction 6 upgrade scheme you can contact us by:

  • emailing M42Junction6@highwaysengland.co.uk
  • calling 0300 123 5000 (this line is available 24 hours a day)