Motorists to drive on M6 hard shoulder

A new motorway jambusting scheme is set to come into operation in 2011 aimed at making life easier for commuters travelling into Shropshire from the West Midlands.

The scheme will ease congestion by allowing motorists to use the hard shoulder of the M6 at busy times between Junction 8 at Rayhall, Birmingham, all the way up to Junction 10a and the M54 link into Shropshire.

News of progress on the Hard Shoulder Running scheme came as Transport Minister Chris Mole opened an identical one today on the M6 between Junctions 4 and 5 near Birmingham.

The opening followed the success of a pilot HSR scheme which is currently in operation on the M42.

Mr Mole said: "The M6 is the first motorway after the successful M42 pilot to see the hard shoulder opened up as a running lane to ease congestion and make journey times more reliable.

Vital

"This scheme will make an invaluable contribution to business and economy and I am delighted that the benefits are being brought to road users on this vital national transport spine a month ahead of schedule."

He added: "By 2015, an investment of about £3 billion - half of our planned spending on the national roads programme - is expected to deliver 340 additional lane miles for road users through schemes like this, making extra capacity available when needed on some of the busiest stretches of England's motorways."

Highways Agency regional director Tim Harbot said that work was continuing on the M6 between Junction 8 and 10a to deliver HSR and it was expected that the scheme would open in spring 2011.

Mr Mole also announced today that the first "through-junction running" scheme, aimed at maximising the benefits of HSR, was expected to start on the M42 on December 9.

Motorists travelling southbound on the M42 at junction 5 near Solihull will be the first in the UK to be able to drive along the motorway hard shoulder between junction slip roads.

This will provide a continuous four-lane section of motorway on the M42 southbound from Junction 6 to Junction 4.

Previously drivers were required to exit the hard shoulder when approaching Junction 5.

By Simon Hardy