M6 junction 2 to junction 4: smart motorway
Improving the busy 13.6 mile (22km) stretch of the M6 between junction 2 at Coventry and junction 4 near Coleshill by upgrading it to an all-lane running smart motorway.
Start date 2017-18
End date March 2020
Cost £155 million to £234 million
Project information
The M6 junction 2 to 4 project involved:
- converting the hard shoulder to create a permanent fourth lane between junctions 2 and 3a
- converting the climbing lane eastbound between junction 3a and 3 to a permanent traffic lane and retaining the hard shoulder
- improving driver experience/consistency on the M6 northbound carriageway by retaining 3 lanes and a hard shoulder from junction 4 to junction 10a
- installing new electronic information signs, signals and CCTV cameras which will be used to vary speed limits and manage traffic flow and incidents
- installing 9 emergency areas for motorists to use in place of the hard shoulder
- improving the central reserve and adding a reinforced barrier to provide better safety
- installing new noise barriers in built up areas and laying low noise surfacing to help mitigate increases in noise generated by traffic using the new smart motorway
Motorists experienced frequent delays between junctions 2 and 4 of the M6. These delays were caused by the volume of traffic using the stretch of motorway. Our scheme has:
- reduced congestion, by smoothing the flow of traffic to improve journey times and make them more reliable
- maximised road capacity to support economic growth across the region
- introduced technology that allows us to activate warning signs which alert motorists to traffic jams and hazards up ahead
Documents

Traffic information
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