M42 scheme recycling drive benefits local communities
A recycling drive by the team behind National Highways’ M42 junction 6 scheme is seeing local communities benefit in surprising ways from repurposed items from the construction site. Playtime is now a lot more fun for residents at the nearby Birmingham Dogs’ Home while a Solihull school can boast its own forest school thanks to […]
M42 project team keeping journeys smooth for local wildlife
Wildlife as well as drivers will be enjoying smooth journeys following the opening of the A4545 dual carriageway, thanks to a series of environmental initiatives. The new A road is part of the M42 junction 6 improvement scheme and details of the work, including several innovations to ensure that impact on local wildlife and habitat […]
New junction opens on M42
A brand new A-road and motorway junction has been opened up to traffic for the first time by National Highways. Traffic was able to use the A4545 link road and the new junction 5a of the M42 this morning marking what the government-owned company calls a significant milestone in a major improvements scheme being carried […]
M42 and A12 voted “worst roads”
Drivers have rated the M42 as the worst motorway in England in a new survey from the independent watchdog, Transport Focus. The Strategic Roads User Survey asked more than 9000 road users about their last journey on a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by National Highways. The M42’s place at the bottom of the league table […]
Bridge demolition completed ahead of schedule
The M42 near Birmingham has needed to be closed for less time than expected during the demolition of a damaged bridge. The structure between junctions 7 (M6 J4) and 6 (Birmingham NEC and Birmingham Airport) was removed by contractors in a 52 hour operation after being struck twice in one week by lorries using the […]
M42 bridge to be demolished this weekend
A bridge over the M42 near Birmingham will be demolished this weekend, after repeatedly being hit by lorries over the last decade. The structure between junctions 7 (M6 J4) and 6 (Birmingham Airport) was struck twice in one week by lorries using the motorway last month, causing significant damage. Since then, the southbound carriageway has […]
Frequently-hit motorway bridge to be demolished
A bridge over the M42 which was hit twice in one week, and nearly 20 times in ten years, will be demolished. The structure between junctions 7 (M6 Junction 4) and 6 (Birmingham Airport) was struck by two lorries using the motorway below earlier this month. Since then the southbound carriageway has been reduced to […]
Engineers “considering all possible solutions” to deal with frequently-damaged bridge
Drivers are being advised to leave extra time for their journeys on the M42 near Birmingham after a bridge straddling the motorway was damaged in two separate collisions. The bridge between junctions 7 and 6 has been hit nearly 20 times in the last ten years. Only two lanes are running underneath it, with the […]
M42 shut this weekend for HS2 works
The M42 will have a series of closures this weekend for HS2 works. The northbound carriageway will be fully closed between junctions 6 (Bickenhill Interchange) and 8 (Coleshill) from 9pm this Friday, 23 June through to 5am on Monday, 26 June. The southbound carriageway will remain open during the day but will be shut […]
New A45 pedestrian footbridge in Solihull opens as part of M42 upgrade
A new footbridge has been in stalled across the A45 in the West Midlands, meaning people will be able to safely walk and cycle over the road to travel between Bickenhill and Catherine-de-Barnes, the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International railway station and the airport. The 92-tonne bridge – spanning almost 60m – was installed as […]