£40m i54 motorway junction set to open next month

A £40m new motorway junction providing access directly onto the i54 business park in South Staffordshire is set to open next month.

The new junction, which will open on December 11, is of strategic importance to the region’s motorway network because it will open up access to one of the area’s most significant new industrial parks.

The development has seen junction two of the M54 reconstructed to provide access onto the motorway network from i54. It is the first time a council has undertaken a major project on a motorway and has been a major draw in attracting leading global businesses.

Earlier this month HM the Queen visited the business park to officially open the new £500m Jaguar Land Rover engine plant and visit International Security Printers (ISP), a firm which produces stamps. The park is also home to aerospace firm Moog and scientific analyst business Eurofins.

Staffordshire County Council has led the construction of the new junction with its partners Wolverhampton City Council and South Staffordshire Council. The project has involved realignment of the junction, new link roads and slip roads built and a replacement 45 metre 500-tonne bridge installed across the M54. The work was carried out by contractor Balfour Beatty.

Staffordshire County Council’s economy leader Mark Winnington said: “Having a dedicated motorway junction to provide access directly onto i54 South Staffordshire is one of the major draws to the site and is why global business leaders have chosen to locate there.

“It has made the difference between here and other possible locations in the UK and internationally. This is the first time a council has undertaken a civil engineering project of this kind and to see it ready to open is rewarding for the partnership. It really justifies our investment and commitment to the project which will make a big difference to job creation and to our economy.”

Wolverhampton City Council leader Roger Lawrence added: “We are nearing the completion of i54 South Staffordshire which is immensely satisfying for all of the partners involved. This is a major business development for Wolverhampton and the region.

“Our joint investment at i54 has secured hundreds of millions of pounds of further investment and is bringing thousands of jobs to the area.”