M6 Toll road ‘could open for free’ to ease congestion

The UK’s underused M6 toll road could be opened free to drivers stuck in congested traffic on the M6, it has been revealed. Toll road operators Midland Expressway have reportedly offered to clear the path to help relieve traffic jams on the M6 if the Government releases it from its commitment to part-finance the M54 link road. The company, a subsidiary of Australian company Macquarie Atlas Roads, has debts of £1.03 billion, which mature in 2015, and as part of its 50-year concession agreement would have to
June 27, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The UK’s underused 803 M6 Toll road could be opened free to drivers stuck in congested traffic on the M6, it has been revealed.

Toll road operators Midland Expressway have reportedly offered to clear the path to help relieve traffic jams on the M6 if the Government releases it from its commitment to part-finance the M54 link road.

The company, a subsidiary of Australian company 802 Macquarie Atlas Roads, has debts of £1.03 billion, which mature in 2015, and as part of its 50-year concession agreement would have to pay more than £100 million towards the costs of the M54 link road if the Government decides to proceed with it.

Midland Expressway has asked for funding to be scrapped in return for allowing cars and lorries stuck in tailbacks on the M6 to re-route to the 27-mile toll motorway.

Traffic numbers have fallen from a peak of 55,000 a day in 2006, to a daily average of 34,310 in January to March this year.
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