Junction 10 revamp work won't start for at least 18 months, highways bosses say
A congestion-busting revamp of Junction 10 of the M6 will not start for at least another 18 months, highways bosses have confirmed today.
The multi-million pound revamp of the busy junction on the Black Country Route was unveiled by Highways England and Walsall Council two years ago.
A planning application was submitted last year and a potential starting date for work was given for the end of this year.
However, Highways England has today said construction work on the scheme will not begin until late next year or early 2020.
It comes after Walsall Council indicated the work could start this year.
The revamp will see two new four-lane bridges built at the junction, increasing the capacity to 10,500 vehicles an hour. It currently serves 8,000.
It will take around two years to complete.
Misery
A spokesman for Highways England said: “In our Roads Investment Strategy optimisation announcement last year, we said that M6 Junction 10 was going to come forward by nine to 12 months, by late 2019 early 2020. This is still the case.
“Currently the scheme is in the planning process and awaiting planning consent.”
The start of work will follow the completion of a project of repairs at the Oldbury Viaduct on the M5, between junctions 1 and 2. This is due to finish in spring 2019.
Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership board member Ninder Johal said: “We would obviously want the M6 Junction 10 scheme to start sooner, but having the two motorway schemes in the Black Country could cause even more misery for motorists.”
He added: “We have seen the benefits of proper infrastructure in recent years, such as JLR moving to i54 – clearly Highways England and Walsall Council have come up with a scheme which will increase traffic flow in a congested area.
“I look forward to the benefit it will bring the public and businesses in our area.”
Last month Walsall Council’s cabinet gave officers the all clear to begin negotiations with landowners to aquire 4.5 acres for the junction development.
The scheme will also include widening of the crossroads junction on the Black Country Route and the A454 at the turn off for Tempus Drive and Bloxwich Lane.
The existing bridges at the junction will continue to be used while the news bridges are built.
