Shropshire M54 roadworks misery revealed

The M54 did not operate at full capacity on any day in 2013, according to a Freedom of Information Act request.

There were some lane closures on all 365 days of the year on the M54 as well as on the M1, M4, M5, M6 and M25 and the M60 in north west England

The figures were obtained from the Highways Agency by motor insurer swiftcover.com and cover England's motorways.

Swiftcover said that in 2013, more than a third of motorways across the UK had lane closures for at least six months, while a quarter were fully open for 25 days or less.

In Shropshire there were major bridge repairs around junction six in Telford resulting in lane closures and a 50mph speed limit.

And work on a junction to serve the new Jaguar Land Rover development near Wolverhampton also led to lane closures and a 50mph speed limit. Swiftcover say the misery for Shropshire motorists is not over yet, as there may be an increase in road works this year as a result of the Government's £317 million pinch point programme.

The programme includes 123 extensive road works projects across the UK – and less than a quarter of these have so far been completed.

Swiftcover.com product manager Roman Bryl said: ""Obviously it is important that motorways are kept in a good state of repair, but maintenance works can be very disruptive and stressful. Drivers should bear in mind that motorways may not actually be the quickest route for their journey."

Stuart Thompson, a spokesman for the Highways Agency, said the high level of work was part of major improvement to roads like the M54.

He said: "The Highways Agency is delivering the biggest ever programme of investment in our roads – £24 billion up to 2021.

"This will ensure we have a strategic road network that is fit for the future and can accommodate the millions of drivers who use our motorways every year.

"Work is planned very carefully to minimise disruption as far as possible, and to ensure the safety of road users and roadworkers."

He added that while they appreciate roadworks can disrupt drivers, it is part of a programme to improve the nations motorways for the future.

Almost 4,000 motorists were caught by average speed cameras in roadworks on the M54 that ran from the middle of last year until early 2014. A total of 3,726 motorists were handed £100 fines between last August and March when the speed limit went to 50mph between junctions five and seven.