M6 junctions 4 to 10a Dynamic Hard Shoulder enhancements
We are upgrading dynamic hard shoulder motorways, starting with the central reservation barriers.
Latest updates
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18 April 2024
Upcoming lane and slip road closures next week
Next week we’ll be working overnight between junctions 4 and 5, installing identification labels on lamp columns and carrying out drainage cover maintenance.
The following closures will be in place overnight from 9pm until 6am:
Date of closure
Details of closure
Diversion route
Monday 22 to Friday 26 April
M6 J4 to J5 northbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M42 southbound to M6 northbound link road – lane 1 closure
Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 April
M6 J5 northbound exit slip road – full closure
Continue on M6 to J6, exit and take the eastbound A38 onto the southbound A452 to reach M6 J5
We’re sorry for the disruption this work may cause to your journey and we encourage drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling. All closures are subject to change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions. Please check this webpage and our X (formerly Twitter) account (@HighwaysWMIDS) before travelling for the latest information.
Details of all full closures on England’s motorways and major A roads over the next week can be found at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road-closure-report.
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12 April 2024
Upcoming lane closures next week
Next week we’ll be working overnight between junctions 4 and 5, installing identification labels on lamp columns and carrying out drainage cover maintenance.
The following closures will be in place overnight from 9pm until 6am:
Date of closure
Details of closure
Diversion route
Monday 15 to Thursday 18 April
M6 J5 to J4 southbound – lane 2 and 3 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M6 J4 to J5 northbound – lane 2 and 3 closure
We’re sorry for the disruption this work may cause to your journey and we encourage drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling. All closures are subject to change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions. Please check this webpage and our X (formerly Twitter) account (@HighwaysWMIDS) before travelling for the latest information.
Details of all full closures on England’s motorways and major A roads over the next week can be found at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road-closure-report.
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05 April 2024
Upcoming closures this weekend
Overnight closures will be in place this weekend. On Friday night, we’ll be working on new CCTV camera installation between M6 junctions 8 and 10a.
On Saturday night, we’re carrying out an emergency drainage repair that requires a full M6 southbound J4a to 4 closure.
The following closures will be in place overnight from 9pm until 6am unless otherwise stated:
Date of closure
Details of closure
Diversion route
Friday 5 April
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closure only
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 closure
Saturday 6 April
M6 J4a to 4 southbound – full closure
9pm to 9am
To continue on the M6 southbound, leave the M6 southbound at J4a and join the M42 southbound, from there follow the M6 southbound signs to rejoin the M6 at J3a.
M6 J4 to 4a northbound – lane 3 closure
9pm to 9am
No diversion required as lane closure only
We’re sorry for the disruption this work may cause to your journey and we encourage drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling. All closures are subject to change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions. Please check this webpage and our X (formerly Twitter) account (@HighwaysWMIDS) before travelling for the latest information.
Details of all full closures on England’s motorways and major A roads over the next week can be found at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road-closure-report.
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21 March 2024
Upcoming lane and slip road closures next week
Next week we’ll be working overnight on new CCTV camera installation between junctions 5 and 10a.
The following closures will be in place overnight from 9pm until 6am:
Date of closure
Details of closure
Diversion route
Monday 25 March
M6 J8 to J5 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M5 J1 northbound to M6 southbound slip road – lane 1 closure
M6 J7 southbound entry slip road – full closure
Head southbound on the M5 to J1, exit and join the M5 northbound to join the M6 southbound
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 closure
M6 J8 to 10a northbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
Tuesday 26 March
M6 J8 to 5 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M5 J1 northbound to M6 southbound slip road – lane 1 closure
M6 J7 southbound entry slip road – full closure
Head southbound on the M5 to J1, exit and join the M5 northbound to join the M6 southbound
M6 J10a to J8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 closure
Wednesday 27 March
M6 J8 to 5 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M6 J10a to J8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 closure
We’re sorry for the disruption this work may cause to your journey and we encourage drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling. All closures are subject to change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions. Please check this webpage and our X (formerly Twitter) account (@HighwaysWMIDS) before travelling for the latest information.
Details of all full closures on England’s motorways and major A roads over the next week can be found at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road-closure-report.
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14 March 2024
Upcoming lane closures next week
Next week we’ll be working overnight on new CCTV camera installation between junctions 5 and 10a.
The following closures will be in place overnight from 9pm until 6am:Date of closure
Details of closure
Diversion route
Monday 18 March
M6 J5 to 8 northbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
No diversion required as lane closures only
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
Tuesday 19 March
M6 J5 to 8 northbound – lane 2 and 3 closure
M6 J8 to 5 southbound – lane 2 and 3 closure
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
Wednesday 20 March
M6 J5 to 8 northbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M6 J8 to 5 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M54 J1 eastbound to M6 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
Thursday 21 March
M6 J8 to 5 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
M5 J1 northbound to M6 southbound slip road – lane 1 closure
M6 J10a to 8 southbound – lane 1 and 2 closure
Project information
These enhancements have been developed as part of our work to upgrade Dynamic Hard Shoulder motorways to the latest safety standards.
On 15 April 2023 the Government announced that plans for new smart motorways would be cancelled in recognition of the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and cost pressures. This follows an announcement in January 2022 to pause the rollout of new all lane running smart motorways, yet to start construction.
In line with this announcement we have cancelled the conversion programme while we consider alternative ways in which to operate the dynamic hard shoulder.
The Government and National Highways continue to invest £900 million in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways, and to give motorists clear advice when using existing smart motorways.
We are installing further safety measures for DHS motorways in operation, including upgrading the central reservation barrier.
Concrete barriers are even 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 are also virtually maintenance free and will last twice as long as normal metal barriers, with far less need for closures for routine repairs.
While we are working in the central reservation, we’re also renewing road lighting, before moving into the verge to upgrade drainage, install new CCTV to ensure even better coverage, new signs to improve visibility of emergency areas, and also creating new places to stop in an emergency where appropriate.
Documents
Related Road projects
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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