Work starts to reduce congestion at M6 junction 16, near Barthomley, Staffordshire
Overnight work to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow at junction 16 of the M6 near Barthomley, Staffordshire, starts on Monday 23 June.
Two schemes costing a total of £8million will be delivered by the Highways Agency, one of them on behalf of Cheshire East Council.
A third lane will be provided on the north and southbound exit slip roads and the roundabout as well as its A500 eastbound approach. Additional traffic lights will be provided on northbound exit slip road and the roundabout itself to complement those already in place on the southbound exit slip road.
Highways Agency Project Manager Debbie Makinde said:
This busy junction suffers from congestion, particularly at peak times. Providing an additional lane on its approaches and providing traffic lights at the roundabout to help traffic join it will reduce that congestion.
We apologise in advance for the disruption and inconvenience experienced by road users, but the junction following this work will be much better and more free-flowing, boosting the local economy and driving economic growth.
During the work, which is due to end the week before Christmas, there will be different phases of traffic management in place depending on what work is taking place at the time. This will include exit and entry slip road closures, full closures of the A500 and B5078 and a temporary speed limit of 50mph.
24-hour narrow lanes will be in place on the A500 west of junction 16 for certain elements of the work. Two laybys on the eastbound carriageway of the A500 – one on the approach to junction 16 and one on the exit from it – will be closed during the work. Two on the westbound carriageway – one on the approach and one on the exit – will form part of the scheme and be closed permanently.
Notification and signing of all closures will be provided in advance.
Traffic levels permitting, work will be carried out from 8pm to 7am on Mondays to Thursdays, 9pm to 9am on Fridays, 7pm to 11am on Saturdays and 7pm to 6am on Sundays.
Traffic management will be removed outside working hours wherever possible and there will be no closures on the M6.
The work is part of a £317 million pinch point improvement programme designed to boost local economies, reduce congestion and improve safety on the strategic road network in England. The programme is part of the UK Government’s growth initiative, outlined during the Chancellor’s Autumn statement in November 2011.
The pinch point programme provides smaller scale improvements that can deliver big returns by easing congestion and making journey times more reliable for road users, including hauliers and commuters to help boost local economies and drive economic growth.
People can find out more about the scheme, including regular updates about traffic management and diversions on the Highways Agency’s website or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.