Sound barrier to be installed for M6 project
A sound-barrier stretching more than half a mile will be installed while work to introduce hard shoulder running takes place along the M6 in Staffordshire.
Villagers in Penkridge welcomed the plans to shield them from noise when a £200 million scheme between junctions 10a, for the M54, and 13 at Eccleshall gets under way.
The Highways Agency says the barrier, which will run for just over a kilometre, will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum for the duration of the project.
Once the work is completed the hard shoulder will be opened up at peak times between Cannock and Stafford to keep traffic flowing. Variable speed limits will also be introduced.
A 50mph limit will be in place along the stretch for more than a year while the width of the lanes will be reduced and there will be some night closures. Work will start early next year and be completed by spring 2015.
Penkridge residents cautiously welcomed the scheme after attending a consultation event.
Cynthia Ball, who lives in Princefield Avenue in the village, says she has some reservations about the scheme but that a similar system currently in place on the M42 – built in 2006 – works well.
"I think it's a case of we'll have to suck it and see," said Mrs Ball.
"We can only try it and hope it works. If it does work it'll be a positive thing because they've increased the capacity of the motorway without taking up any land to do so.
"I use the M42 all the time and it works there.
"My only concern is about continental drivers and foreign lorry drivers.
"They don't have anything similar in Germany, for example, so maybe we should be informing Europe."
Meanwhile, Derek and Sue Green, of Norman Road in Penkridge, say they can already hear the noise of the motorway from their home so they are happy there are plans to put a noise barrier in place. We have been concerned that the construction work will disturb us at night," said Mr Green.
"But they're building the noise barrier so we'll probably end up hearing less than before."
Graham Powell, of Knights Close, added: "We might get people cutting through the village to cut the motorway out when there's construction going on, but at least it will only be for a short time."
