Motorists warned of further disruption as M6 remains closed

MOTORISTS in Birmingham have been warned to expect long delays on their journey home as the effects of an accident which closed the M6 between junctions 5 and 6 continue to be felt.

Highways England said traffic around Birmingham was likely to be severely delayed for the evening rush-hour and the section of motorway affected by the accident is not expected to return to normal until after 11pm.

Drivers have suffered misery all day and the agency said that while the southbound section of the carriageway was now open, work continued on the northbound section and the knock-on effect of this was causing backlogs throughout the West Midlands’ road network.

Delays of more than 50 minutes have been quoted for traffic using the M6 northbound between junctions 4 and 6, with the same applying to the M42.
 
The motorway was closed following a fatal collision between car and a shortly around 2am this morning.

All road users have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

The accident has reignited calls for the M6 Toll to be made free to use during emergencies such as today’s incident.

By a quirk of fate, Transport Secretary Patrick McLaughlin was in Birmingham today to open the offices of the HS2 Ltd, the company tasked with delivering the HS2 high speed rail network.

Questioned by journalists over the incident he said he was more than willing to examine such an option.

The West Midlands Combined Authority had hinted that it might seek to have the toll route designated as a free-to-use motorway to relieve congestion on the region’s existing roads.

For further traffic information check out the Highways England website
http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information