M42 upgrade plans at Birmingham Airport junction

One of the West Midlands’ most notorious motorway junctions is to undergo a programme of upgrade works in a bid to cut congestion.

Junction six of the M42 serves Birmingham Airport, the NEC complex, which includes Resorts World and Genting Arena, and the National Motorcycle Museum as well as connecting to the A45 Coventry Road.

The already busy area will also serve a new station being built for the high-speed rail line HS2 which will run between Birmingham and London from 2026.

Highways England has now launched a series of consultation events to highlight the options it is considering and discuss the proposals with the general public.

The three options are:

* Link to the west of Bickenhill

This would provide a new 1.5-mile dual carriageway link between the Clock Interchange and a junction allowing north and south access to the M42 north of Solihull Road.

* Link to the east of Bickenhill

This would provide a new 1.4-mile dual carriageway link between the Clock Interchange and a junction allowing north and south access to the M42 north of Solihull Road.

* Link to the east of Bickenhill

This would provide a new one-mile dual carriageway link between the Clock Interchange and a south facing junction on the M42 north of Shadowbrook Lane.

Highways England said there were also plans to improve traffic flow at the junction six roundabout by providing dedicated left turn links at the NEC, National Motorcycle Museum and north east area of the roundabout.

Senior project manager Jonathan Pizzey said: “We’re delivering major investment in the West Midlands as part of a nationwide commitment to improving our roads.

“We want people to have their say on the options we are proposing ahead of developing the scheme further to a preferred route.”

The consultation events take place as follows:

– Friday 9th December 2pm – 8pm, Arden Hotel, Coventry Road, Solihull
– Saturday 10th December 10am – 4pm. Catherine-de-Barnes Village Hall, Hampton Lane
– Monday 12th December 10am – 6pm. Fentham Hall, Marsh Lane, Hampton-in- Arden
– Wednesday 4th January 2017 10am – 5pm, The Core, Touchwood, Solihull
– Saturday 14th January 2017 9am – 6pm, The NEC (between atrium entrances two and three), Solihull

There will also be a web chat on Wednesday 18th January 2017 from 11am to 2pm via the Highways Englands website: http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m42-junction-6-improvement/