MP Gavin Williamson banging the drum on M54 noise menace
An MP has taken his campaign to get a stretch of the M54 resurfaced to reduce noise straight to a government chief - but insists he is optimistic the work will go ahead in the coming years.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson says he wants the road revamped up to junction four for Telford.
He says residents have faced years of misery from the sound of vehicles pounding across the concrete surface at high speeds.
It would cost £1.5 million a mile for the carriageway to be relaid - but with noise levels topping 76 decibels, he says the work is crucial.
He spoke to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin last week about the issue. And Mr McLoughlin said he would look at the problem again.
Mr Williamson said: "He is obviously very concerned and interested in this but he does have constraints with his budgets.
"But if we don't make the demands we will not get the delivery so I will continue banging the drum."
Last May transport minister Stephen Hammond said work would go-ahead around junction 2 and junction 1 for Cannock once money became available.
But Mr Williamson says he is determined to get the rest of the carriageway resurfaced. It comes as work continues on the i54 plant, with more than 10,000 drivers being fined for breaking the 50mph limit in recent months.
He spoke to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin last week about the issue. He said: "He is obviously very concerned and interested in this but he does have constraints with his budgets.
"But if we don't make the demands we will not get the delivery so I will continue banging the drum."
There is a low noise tar that can be used, known in the trade as Whisper Tar, he added.
A £36.7m flyover and revamp of junction two is being built by Wolverhampton City Council and Staffordshire County Council.
It had been seen as a crucial part of the deal to attract the luxury car maker to the i54.
It will connect to the business park where JLR is spending £500m on an engine plant.
