Skip to main content

Section of M6 motorway to be made ‘smart’

A section of the M6 motorway in the UK between junctions 10a and 13 is to be upgraded to a smart (managed) motorway with all-lane running. This section of the motorway is a major strategic route, carrying around 120,000 vehicles per day.
November 1, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A section of the M6 motorway in the UK between junctions 10a and 13 is to be upgraded to a Smart (managed) motorway with all-lane running. This section of the motorway is a major strategic route, carrying around 120,000 vehicles per day.

Carillion has been awarded a US$113 million construction contract for the scheme, which currently has an estimated overall cost of US$140 million. The project will increase the capacity of the M6 between the two junctions by improving traffic flow and relieving congestion with variable mandatory speed restrictions at peak times and converting the existing hard shoulder between junctions 11a and 13 to an additional permanent running lane with Smart motorways technology.

The scheme is part of a pilot initiative to speed up delivery of road projects, to ensure road users and the economy benefit from improvements sooner. Advanced enabling works started in September 2013 and full construction can now continue from the award of the construction contract. This is ahead of the planned construction start date of between January and March 2014. The full scheme is expected to be completed by spring 2015

Roads minister Robert Goodwill said: "I welcome today's contract award which is an important step towards the 503 Highways Agency starting the main construction works on this much-needed scheme.”

David Cooke, Highways Agency project manager, said:  “Once completed in spring 2015, this scheme will relieve congestion on this major transport route, improving journey time reliability and safety for road users.  Over the coming months road users will start to see the additional verge mounted signs and gantries being installed. Much of the work will be less noticeable as the installation and testing of supporting hidden roadside technology will be ongoing throughout the scheme.”

Carillion chief executive, Richard Howson, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded another contract to install Smart motorway technology on the M6. Carillion is already successfully delivering a Smart motorway project for the Highways Agency between Junctions 5 and 8 on the M6 and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Highways Agency to improve journey times for the travelling public along this major route.”

Related Content

  • July 2, 2015
    Cheshire’s M6 to become smart motorway
    Draft regulations to introduce variable mandatory speed limits as part of the planned smart motorway upgrade to 18 and a half miles of the M6 in Cheshire were published this week for consultation with key stakeholders. Highways England is planning to start construction work on the US$299 to US$427 million project between junction 16 at Crewe and junction 19 at Knutsford later this year. The hard shoulder will be converted into a permanent extra running lane and smart motorway technology installed to give
  • April 11, 2014
    M25 becomes UK’s smartest motorway
    Final preparations are taking place for the M25 to become England’s first smart motorway, improving journeys and boosting the economy. Two sections of the motorway opening this month and next are between junctions 23 and 25 in Hertfordshire and between junctions 5 and 6/7 on the Kent/Surrey border. For the first time on a motorway scheme in England the hard shoulder will be used as a permanent traffic lane, with enhanced technology to manage traffic flow to improve the reliability of journey times.
  • February 12, 2013
    M62 managed motorway scheme signs switched on
    Work to upgrade part of the M62 in West Yorkshire to a managed motorway, the first scheme in the Yorkshire and Humber region, reached a significant milestone when the first overhead electronic signs went live. For the first time, the variable advisory speed limit signs have come into operation between junctions 27 and 28 to allow the UK Highways Agency to calibrate and test the technology required for the new managed motorway, with the signs being switched on and off in response to traffic conditions. Advis
  • April 8, 2014
    UK defaults to hard shoulder running to expand motorway capacity
    Hard shoulder running has become the UK’s default response to increasing motorway capacity as Colin Sowman reports. Facing a predicted 46% increase in traffic levels by 2040 and the current economic recovery leading to more people travelling to, from and for work leaves the UK government under short- and long-term pressure to increase the capacity on the main motorway network. Particular sections of motorways are already experiencing repeated, sometimes tidal, congestion and both tight Treasury limits and t