Transport chief welcomes M6 expansion scheme

The Government announced earlier this week that £3.8 billion will be pumped into improving roads across the West Midlands.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin unveiled ambitious £15 billion plans in Parliament to improve the country's transport network. However, critics have hit out, saying the announcement was little more than 'recycled policies' aimed at wooing votes in the run-up to the election.

The congestion-busting £64.5m scheme at junction 10 of the M6 and the surrounding road network in Walsall will see new widened bridges being built over the motorway, improvements to the motorway slip roads, installation of intelligent traffic signals, widening and modernisation of the nearby Bloxwich Lane junction and modification to a small section of the Black Country Route.

The Department for Transport and Highways Agency have agreed to release approximately half of the necessary funding, which has been welcomed by Walsall's transport chief Councillor Lee Jeavons.

The local authority had already secured the other half through the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership in September.

Councillor Jeavons said: "It's fantastic news for Walsall and for the rest of the West Midlands that the Government and the Highways Agency have agreed to help fund the reconstruction of M6 Junction 10.

"Anyone that has used this busy junction will agree that the congestion issue is something that needs to be addressed.

"Around 7,000 vehicles pass through junction 10 during the busiest hours of the day so we believe that this mammoth scheme will make a major contribution to relieve congestion in the area."

The scheme is expected to start in 2017 and will help safeguard existing jobs and create new employment opportunities by supporting key employment sites within a 10 minute radius.

Around 2,500 new homes as part of the Black Country Local Growth Deal is also on the cards.

Councillor Jeavons added: "The council has worked with the Highways Agency and the Black Country LEP to get this project moving and had already secured substantial funding from the Black Country's Local Growth Deal.

"These improvements will affect everybody that uses this busy area, from motorists getting to and from work, and businesses that need to transport their goods and services to the rest of the country.

"It will also contribute to the economic growth and regeneration of the region.

"We've recently started the £26m road improvement scheme in Darlaston and the combined effect of these projects will make the area a more attractive location for business investment."

Tom Westley, Black Country LEP board member leading on the enterprise zone, also welcomed the news, adding: "This will support the development of the Black Country enterprise zone's Darlaston sites which aim to create over 2,000 new jobs and the construction of 2,500 new homes within a few miles of the junction."

Around 120,000 vehicles pass through the M6 every day.