The UK’s busy M6 motorway is benefiting from new lanes being opened between junctions 21a and 26. National Highways is opening an extra lane for drivers on both the northbound and southbound carriageways along 16km of the M6 between junction 21a and junction 26, the Orrell interchange with the M58.
The newly upgraded Warrington to Wigan section will feature a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph) with other interim safety measures in place, until work to calibrate technology, including stopped vehicle detection, is completed. The upgrade is then expected to fully open, with the 112km/h (70mph) maximum speed limit, by next spring.
Alongside adding an extra lane in both directions, the upgrade has involved providing extra technology and safety upgrades, including stopped vehicle detection. This uses radar technology to alert National Highways’ control centre operators who can then close lanes with a red X signal, display modified speed limits and deploy traffic officers.
Costain has been the on-site partner for the scheme, leading the delivery of improvements on this key strategic route which carries around 120,000 vehicles/day between Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. The scheme will improve the lives of those in the region by reducing congestion and improving travel times, making journeys more reliable and assisting economic growth in the North West.
